Google Launches News Feed App

Curated stream of articles and videos is based on search history

Google is rolling out its own version of the News Feed — simply called “Feed” — but unlike your Facebook feed, you won’t be seeing crazy political theories from your uncle or be inundated with pictures from a high school classmate you haven’t seen in a decade.

Instead, Google will be curating a stream of articles, videos, and other content based on your search history. After tinkering with the idea last year, its Feed will be featured on the Google app for Android and iOS starting on Wednesday.

Users will still see Google’s famous search bar front and center, but will be able to scroll down to see personalized news based on Google’s all-powerful algorithm. If you’ve been reading about Ed Sheeran on “Game of Thrones,” you’ll see more of the ginger singer in your Feed.

Google will also be offering an array of news sources to give users a more well-rounded look at a topic, according to the company’s release announcing Feed.

“To provide information from diverse perspectives, news stories may have multiple viewpoints from a variety of sources, as well as other related information and articles,” said the release. “And when available, you’ll be able to fact check and see other relevant information to help get a more holistic understanding about the topics in your feed.”

If this sounds similar to Facebook’s bread and butter product, that’s because it is. Facebook is Google’s biggest competitor for online ad revenue, with the two companies raking in a remarkable 85 percent of all new digital advertising. It’s no surprise Google is adding its own Feed, although it’ll be solidifying its version with data collected from its users, rather than Facebook’s being personally cultivated.

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