Visibility now depends on whether readers actively choose to prioritize them
On August 12, 2025, Google introduced a quiet but consequential shift in how people encounter the news — inviting users in India and the United States to name the publishers they trust and see those voices rise more reliably in their search results. The feature, called Preferred Sources, does not wall off the world, but it does hand readers a new kind of editorial agency, asking them to be deliberate about where their understanding of events is shaped. In an era when the relationship between platforms and publishers is under constant renegotiation, this small star-card icon carries larger questions about who curates the news — and whether that responsibility belongs to algorithms, institutions, or individuals.
- For the first time, Google is letting users in India and the US explicitly choose which news outlets rise to the top of their search results — a meaningful transfer of curation power from machine to person.
- Publishers now face a new competitive pressure: visibility in Google Search depends not only on algorithmic favor but on whether readers actively choose to prioritize them.
- The feature syncs across all signed-in devices, meaning a reader's trust decisions made once on a phone follow them seamlessly to tablet and desktop.
- Google has been careful to frame this as amplification, not exclusion — preferred outlets get priority when relevant, but other sources remain visible, preserving a degree of editorial breadth.
- Currently limited to English-language searches in two markets, the rollout signals potential global expansion as Google watches how users engage with the tool.
Google launched Preferred Sources on August 12, 2025, giving users in India and the United States the ability to select trusted news publishers and see their coverage appear more prominently in search results. The tool surfaces within the Top stories carousel — a small star-card icon opens a picker where readers can search for and check off any outlets they rely on, including Times of India. Once selected, those publishers are weighted more heavily in relevant news queries, and the preferences sync automatically across all devices for signed-in users.
The feature imposes no ceiling on how many sources a reader can add, allowing for a fully personalized news diet built on individual judgment rather than algorithmic default. An alternative entry point exists through Search settings under Source preferences, though the in-carousel method is the primary path most users will encounter.
Crucially, Preferred Sources does not create a closed ecosystem. Other publishers continue to appear in results; chosen outlets simply receive priority when they have fresh, relevant coverage. The feature also operates independently from the Google News app, whose personalization settings remain separate.
The launch arrives as platforms and publishers are actively renegotiating their relationship. By placing curation choices in users' hands, Google is redistributing editorial responsibility — and asking readers to take a more intentional stance about where their news comes from. For publishers, the implication is pointed: earning a place in someone's preferred list may matter as much as earning algorithmic favor.
Google rolled out a new feature on August 12, 2025, that lets people take control of which news outlets appear most prominently in their search results. Called Preferred sources, the tool allows users in India and the United States to select trusted publishers—including Times of India—and see their coverage bubble up more frequently in Google's Top stories carousel and in a dedicated "From your sources" section whenever those outlets publish something relevant to what you're searching for.
The mechanics are straightforward. When you search for breaking news or current events on Google, you'll see a Top stories section at the top of the results. Next to that header is a small star-card icon. Tap it, and a picker appears where you can search for and select your preferred outlets. Check the box next to Times of India or any other publisher you trust, then reload your results. From that point forward, Google will weight those sources more heavily in its news carousel for relevant queries. The settings sync automatically across all your devices if you're signed into your Google account, so your preferences follow you whether you're searching on your phone, tablet, or desktop.
Google is not limiting how many sources you can add to your preferences list. Users can select as many outlets as they want, building a personalized news diet tailored to their own judgment about which publishers do reliable work. The company has also built an alternative pathway into the feature for some users through Search settings under a section called Source preferences, though the star-card method from the Top stories section is the primary way most people will access it.
One important clarification: adding preferred sources does not block other publishers from appearing in your results. Google is not creating a walled garden. Instead, the feature simply increases the frequency with which your chosen outlets appear when they have fresh, relevant coverage for your search. You'll still see a mix of sources. The preferred sources just get priority when they have something new to say about the topic you're looking up.
For now, the feature is available only in India and the United States, and only for English-language searches within the Top stories section. The rollout is initial, suggesting Google may expand it to other regions and languages as the company gathers data on how users engage with the tool. It's worth noting that Preferred sources is a Search feature distinct from the Google News app, which has its own separate settings and personalization controls. If you use the News app, your preferred sources selections in Search won't automatically carry over.
The feature arrives at a moment when publishers and platforms are renegotiating their relationship. By giving users explicit control over which outlets they see, Google is shifting some of the curation burden away from its algorithms and toward individual choice. For news organizations, it means visibility in search results now depends partly on whether readers actively choose to prioritize them. For readers, it means taking a more intentional stance about where their news comes from—and having the tools to enforce that choice across devices.
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does Google need a feature like this? Isn't the algorithm already showing people relevant news?
The algorithm shows what it thinks is relevant based on patterns and signals. But people have opinions about which outlets they trust. This feature lets you override the algorithm's judgment with your own.
So if I add Times of India, will I stop seeing other news sources?
No. You'll still see a mix. Preferred sources just means TOI gets more real estate when they have something fresh on your topic. It's a volume dial, not a switch.
Does this help or hurt smaller news outlets?
That's the tension. If readers actively curate toward established names, smaller outlets lose visibility. But if readers don't use the feature, nothing changes. It depends on behavior.
What happens if I'm not signed into Google?
Your preferences won't sync across devices. You'd have to set them up separately on each phone or computer. Signing in is the way to make it stick everywhere.
Is this only in Google Search, or does it work in Google News too?
Search only, for now. The News app has its own settings. They're separate ecosystems.
What's the real story here—for publishers?
Publishers now have to earn their way onto people's preferred lists. Visibility isn't just about SEO or algorithms anymore. It's about whether readers trust you enough to actively choose you.