The algorithm doesn't have to decide for you: You can now set Morning as a preferred source on Google

Users of Google's search engine can now choose preferred news sources, allowing them to customize their information experience without being entirely controlled by algorithms. This feature has recently become available to Croatian users of Jutarnji list, one of the country’s leading newspapers. The option allows readers to mark Jutarnji as a preferred source within Google's search interface, which affects how the newspaper appears in search results and AI-generated summaries. The mechanism works by letting users select trusted media outlets after signing into their Google accounts. Once selected, these sources appear more prominently in the Top Stories section, in a dedicated area labeled “From Your Sources,” and starting this summer, they also receive a label indicating they are preferred sources within AI-generated responses. However, this does not exclude other sources from appearing in search results—Google continues to provide its full range of content, ensuring users are not confined to a single informational bubble. This functionality was first introduced in June 2025 through Google's Search Labs, initially limited to English-speaking users in the United States and India. Early testing revealed that over half of the participants chose four or more sources, suggesting that users prefer curating diverse reading lists rather than relying on a single outlet. The feature was officially launched on August 12, 2025, but remained restricted to English language searches in those two markets. By December 2025, the feature had expanded globally to all English-language users, with Google reporting around 90,000 selected sources at that time. It was then rolled out to all supported languages, including Croatian, on April 30, 2026, when the number of selected sources reached 200,000. A significant update occurred on May 27, 2026, when preferred sources were integrated into AI Overviews and AI Mode, where links received visible labels. By that point, the total number of selected sources had grown to 345,000. While Google has not emphasized this aspect in its official announcements, the introduction of preferred sources represents a partial concession to both users and publishers. Instead of leaving visibility decisions solely to algorithms, some control is handed back to individuals. According to Google, users are twice as likely to click on sources they have personally marked as preferred, though the company has not provided detailed methodology to support this claim. For Jutarnji readers, the practical benefit is straightforward. Marking the newspaper as a preferred source takes just a few seconds and can be undone at any time. The result is that articles users typically seek will not be pushed further down the search results page. This change could help maintain the relevance of Jutarnji in a competitive digital landscape, where algorithm-driven rankings often determine visibility. The broader context suggests that this feature addresses growing concerns about the influence of algorithms on information consumption. With AI-generated summaries increasingly dominating search results, traditional publishers face challenges in maintaining user engagement. By giving users the ability to prioritize certain sources, Google aims to balance personal choice with algorithmic curation. As the feature becomes more widely adopted, it remains to be seen how significantly it will impact user behavior and publisher strategies. For now, it offers a new layer of customization that aligns with evolving expectations around personalized information access.