Google's February 2026 Discover Core Update

On February 5, 2026, Google rolled out the February 2026 Discover Core Update, a broad algorithm update that changes how content is surfaced in Google Discover feeds. This update doubles down on local relevance, originality, and topic‑level expertise while aggressively reducing clickbait and thin content in Discover.

Quick overview: what changed in Discover

Google’s own announcement highlights three main shifts in this Discover core update.

• More locally relevant content
  Discover now shows more content from websites based in a user’s country and aligned with their language and regional interests, making geographic relevance a much stronger signal.
• Reduction of sensational, clickbait content
  Google is explicitly de‑prioritizing sensational or misleading headlines and low‑value content that overpromises and underdelivers. Articles that rely on clickbait titles without real substance are more likely to lose visibility in Discover.
• Priority on in‑depth, timely, expert content
  The update favors content that is original, in‑depth, and timely from sites that demonstrate clear topic‑level expertise, rather than just general authority at the domain level. Google evaluates expertise topic by topic, meaning even multi‑topic sites can earn Discover visibility where they show consistent depth.

The update launched first for English‑language users in the U.S., with expansion to other countries and languages planned over the following months. As with other core updates, Google notes that sites may see increases, decreases, or no change at all in Discover traffic, and that fluctuations are normal during rollout.

What is Google Discover and why this update matters

Google Discover is a personalized content feed in the Google app and on mobile that surfaces articles, videos, and other content before a user even searches. Instead of responding to explicit queries, Discover proactively recommends content based on a user’s interests, search history, location, and engagement patterns.

For brands, this matters because:

• Discover can be a major source of zero‑click traffic, putting your content in front of users who haven’t yet searched for you.
• It’s especially powerful at the top and middle of the funnel, where education, thought leadership, and brand affinity are built.
• The February 2026 update changes which content earns that visibility by tightening quality, relevance, and expertise standards.

In other words: you’re no longer just competing on keywords, you’re competing on depth, originality, and how well you serve specific audiences in specific regions.

Key impacts of the February 2026 Discover Core Update

The update affects how your content is discovered, evaluated, and surfaced in user feeds.

1. Local relevance is non‑negotiable

Discover now places more weight on geographic and language alignment.

• Content tailored to a specific country, region, or audience is more likely to appear for users in that context.
• Generic, global content without clear regional relevance may struggle to compete against locally focused pieces, especially in markets where strong local publishers exist.

For a brand, that means it’s increasingly important to create country‑ or region‑specific content (for example, a guide tailored to AI search visibility in East Africa versus a generic global article).

2. Clickbait is actively punished

Google is reducing the visibility of sensational or misleading content in Discover.

• Headlines that exaggerate, create artificial curiosity, or promise outcomes that the article doesn’t deliver are at higher risk of being de‑prioritized.
• Informative, accurate, and expectation‑aligned headlines are rewarded, particularly when they match an article that actually provides depth and value.

This doesn’t mean you can’t write compelling titles, it means your hook must be honest and backed by substantive content.

3. Topic‑level expertise drives visibility

Google is evaluating expertise on a topic‑by‑topic basis rather than only at the “entire site” level.

• A site that consistently publishes deep, well‑researched content about a specific subject can be recognized as authoritative for that topic, even if it covers many other areas.
• One‑off or shallow coverage of a topic is less likely to gain Discover traction, especially in competitive niches.

Google’s own example: a local news site with a dedicated, in‑depth gardening section could build Discover authority on gardening, whereas a movie review site that posts a single gardening article is unlikely to.

4. Traffic volatility is normal but not random

As with other core updates, Discover traffic may rise, fall, or remain stable depending on how well a site aligns with the new criteria.

• Sites with original, expert content and local relevance often see gains in impressions and clicks from Discover.
• Sites that depend heavily on clickbait, aggregation, or generic, shallow content may see declines in Discover visibility.
• Traffic typically takes several weeks to stabilize; many publishers see patterns settle within two to six weeks after rollout.[

During this period, monitoring Discover performance via Google Search Console’s Discover report is critical to understanding how your content is being surfaced.

How to adapt your content strategy for the update

To succeed in Discover after the February 2026 update, brands need to combine strong editorial fundamentals with a deliberate focus on locality, depth, and authenticity.

1. Double down on original, expert content

Google is rewarding content that shows genuine expertise and adds something new to the conversation.

• Publish articles that offer unique frameworks, proprietary data, or real‑world examples rather than rephrasing what others have already said.
• Build out coherent topic clusters: multiple high‑quality pieces around a specific theme, each covering a distinct angle in depth, to signal sustained expertise over time.

For example, instead of a single generic piece on “Google Discover,” build a series on Discover strategy by vertical, market, or funnel stage, each grounded in real data and outcomes.

2. Make local relevance explicit

Because Discover is more sensitive to location and language, make your intended audience obvious.

• Reference regions, markets, or segments clearly in your headings and copy where appropriate.
• Use region‑specific examples, benchmarks, and use cases, rather than only global or U.S.‑centric data.
• Consider creating localized variations of high‑performing content for key markets to align better with local context.

This both helps Discover understand who your content is for and genuinely makes the piece more useful for that audience.

3. Write honest, value‑driven headlines

Headlines are still your first impression—but they now carry more risk if they’re misleading.

Effective Discover‑friendly headlines tend to:

• Clearly describe the outcome or value of the article.
• Avoid artificial curiosity gaps that aren’t supported by substantive content.
• Reflect the depth or specificity of the piece (e.g., “Playbook,” “Framework,” “From X to Y,” “2026 Market Breakdown”).

When in doubt, ask: would a reader feel the article delivered exactly what the headline promised? If not, revise.

4. Optimize for mobile experience and engagement

Discover is primarily consumed on mobile through the Google app.

• Ensure pages are fast, responsive, and free of intrusive interstitials or frustrating UX patterns.
• Use strong feature images, clear typography, and scannable layout (short paragraphs, meaningful sub‑headings, and visual hierarchy) to encourage engagement.
• Maintain and update evergreen content so that it remains accurate, timely, and aligned with users’ current interests

Engagement metrics themselves aren’t the only ranking signal, but a poor user experience can undermine otherwise strong content.

5. Monitor and iterate using data

Post‑update, data is your feedback loop.

• Use Google Search Console’s Discover report to track impressions, clicks, and CTR for Discover traffic per page
• Combine this with analytics data (time on page, bounce rate, paths) to see which topics and formats resonate most with your audience.
• Test different headline styles and images for similar content types, then iterate based on the patterns you see in engagement and visibility.

Treat Discover like any other performance channel: measure, learn, and adjust continuously.

Discover, SEO, and GEO: why this update matters in the AI era

The February 2026 Discover update doesn’t exist in a vacuum, it lands at the same time search is rapidly shifting toward AI‑powered, conversational, and generative experiences.

SEO is necessary, but no longer sufficient

Traditional SEO (technical health, crawlability, E‑E‑A‑T, and search‑friendly content) is still essential to help Google understand and surface your pages. However, brands now also need to think beyond classic rankings to include:

• Visibility in Discover feeds.
• Presence and positioning in generative and conversational answers across AI engines.
• How their content is summarized, cited, and framed when users don’t see ten blue links at all.

GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is the new layer

Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) focuses on how content is discovered, interpreted, and cited by AI‑powered search engines and assistants. In practice, GEO means:

• Structuring content so AI systems can clearly identify entities, relationships, and key claims.
• Providing depth, clarity, and supporting context that make your page a reliable source for AI answers.
• Understanding where your brand is (and isn’t) being referenced in AI‑generated responses across different platforms.

For brands, Discover optimization and GEO increasingly overlap: content that’s regionally relevant, deeply expert, and clearly structured tends to perform better both in Discover and in AI‑generated answers.

How Lantern helps brands respond

The February 2026 Discover Core Update is a reminder that search visibility now spans traditional rankings, Discover feeds, and AI‑generated answers. This is exactly the problem Lantern is built to solve.

Here’s how Lantern fits in as solution for teams who want to act on this update not just read about it.

• Unified visibility across Google and AI engines
  Lantern shows where your brand appears across Google search results, Discover‑driven traffic, and AI engines such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Claude, giving you a holistic view of search in the AI era.
• GEO‑first insights, not just keywords
  Instead of only tracking keyword rankings, Lantern helps you see how generative engines discover, interpret, and cite your content, so you can align SEO, Discover strategy, and GEO in a single roadmap.
• Faster diagnostics after core updates
  When updates like the February 2026 Discover Core Update roll out, Lantern helps you identify which pages gained or lost visibility, where you’re gaining AI citations, and where you’re being overlooked, so you can prioritize high‑impact content improvements.
• Built for modern content and growth teams
  Lantern is designed for teams who need to understand the full funnel impact of their content, from initial Discover exposure and AI mentions to downstream traffic and conversions.