Google updated the Web Stories documentation to reflect that Web Stories will no longer appear in Google Images, among other changes.
Google Web Stories
Web Stories is a visual form of short content which is designed for short moments like when traveling by bus. They are visuals with short sentences and are shaped like a carousel where swiping your finger reveals the next “page” of content.
Google calls them snackable content and visual storytelling.
That is how Google describes web stories:
“Web Stories immerses its readers in fast-loading, full-screen experiences. Easily create visual narratives, with engaging animations and tappable interactions.
The Web Story format (previously known as AMP Stories) is free, part of the open web, and available for everyone to try on their websites. They can be shared and integrated across the web without being confined to a closed ecosystem or platform.Web Stories provides content publishers with a mobile-centric format to deliver news and information as visually rich and accessible stories. Web Stories offers a robust set of advertising opportunities for advertisers and publishers to reach a unique audience on the web with immersive experiences.”
Changes in availability
Web Stories are available on Google Search, including Google discovers. They were previously available on Google Images but this is no longer the case.
According to the Google Developer Pages changelog:
“Web Stories availability has been updated.
What: Updated Web Stories feature availability.Why: To make sure our documentation aligns with how the feature appears in Google Search. “Web Stories no longer appear in Google Images and the grid view is now a carousel view in search results.”
Google Search central help page for web stories
The Google Search Central developer page for Web Stories has been updated to reflect changes to where Web Stories are available.
The first change in the documentation is a new title that emphasizes that Web Stories They are part of Google Search.
This is the new title:
“A web history in Google Search”
The next change is the removal of content about how Web Stories appear on Google, replaced by a new header emphasizing that Web Stories is a search feature.
The second new title:
“Feature Availability”
The most substantial change is the addition of a new paragraph that accompanies the previous title.
This is the new section:
Feature Availability
“Web Stories can appear as a single result on Google Search, which is available in all regions and languages where Google Search is available. Web Stories can also appear in a carousel on Google Search, which is available in the United States (in English), India (in English and Hindi), and Brazil (in Brazilian Portuguese).
In the Discover feed, Web Stories can appear as a single card where you can access the story. While this look is available in all regions and languages where Google Discover is available, it is most likely to appear in the United States, India, and Brazil.”
Read Google’s changelog entry for this change:
February 8 Web Stories availability updated
Featured image from Shutterstock/Bplanet
