opt out of Google Page Annotations

Ever wish Google would have one button for opt me out of all Google growth hacking schemes that you could click once and be done with it? Me too. But that’s not how it works.

Anyway, the new one is Google Page Annotations: Google app for iOS now injects links back to Search on websites. I really don’t want this site showing up with links to stuff I didn’t link to. The choices of links on here are my own free expression.

This opt-out has two parts and you do need to have a Google Account to do it.

1. Either set up Google Search Console and add your site(s) as web properties on there, or go to your existing Google Search Console account and get a list of your web properties.

2. Visit the form: Opt out from Page Annotation in Google App browser for iOS and add your web properties as a comma-separated list. You have to be the Google Search Console owner of the site(s) to do the opt out.

Hopefully this awkward form thing is just temporary and there will be a more normal opt-out with a meta tag or something at some point. I’ll update this page if they make one.

IMHO the IT business had a peak some time in the mid-2000s. You didn’t have to dink with vintage PC stuff like DIP switches and partition tables, but the Internet companies were still in create more value than you capture mode and you didn’t have to work around too many dark patterns either. If I recall correctly, Microsoft did something like this link-adding scheme in Internet Explorer at one point, but they backed off on it before it really became a thing and the opt-out was easier. Welcome to the return of the power user. Oh well, writing up all the individual opt outs is good for getting clicks. The Google Search algorithm loves tips on how to turn Google stuff off.

Related (more stuff to turn off)

fix Google Search: get rid of most of the AI and other annoying features

Google Chrome ad features checklist: turn off tracking and built-in ads in Google Chrome

Block AI training on a web site Right now you can’t block Google from taking your content for AI without also blocking your site from Google Search, but that’s likely to change.

Bonus links

Why the DOJ’s Google Ad Tech Case Matters to You In 2020, as the UK report cited above showed, publishers received only 51% of the money spent by advertisers to reach readers, and about 15% of advertisers’ money seems to just… disappear.

MFA is Programmatic’s Dark Mirror The failure of MFA is not MFA websites. The failure of MFA is that we built an incentive system in programmatic that essentially necessitated their existence. Related: I was invited to Google HQ to talk about my failing website. Here’s how that went.