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Google begins requiring JavaScript for Google Search
Google has started requiring users to enable JavaScript in order to use its search engine, the company confirmed today. The decision is intended to “better protect” Google Search from malicious activity and improve the overall user experience.
In an email to TechCrunch, a spokesperson for the search giant claimed that enabling JavaScript allows them to shield their services and users from bots and evolving forms of abuse and spam. This, in turn, enables the company to provide more relevant and up-to-date information to its users.
JavaScript is a widely used programming language on the web, with 95% of sites employing it in some form, according to a 2020 GitHub survey. However, this move has raised concerns among some who rely on accessibility tools that can struggle with certain JavaScript implementations.
The decision may also be motivated by Google’s desire to limit third-party tools that provide insights into Google Search trends and traffic. Some “rank-checking” tools experienced issues with Google Search around the time of the change, according to a post on Search Engine Roundtable. When asked about this, Google declined to comment.
It is worth noting that fewer than 0.1% of searches are done by people who disable JavaScript. However, when considering Google’s massive daily search volume (around 8.5 billion searches per day), the actual number of affected users could be substantial.
Source: techcrunch.com
