Today, we’re diving into something that many content creators and SEO enthusiasts are thinking about after the recent Google I/O and the introduction of Google SGE AI Overviews—how to prevent your content from appearing there.
These nifty little snippets are great for users looking for quick answers, but they can be a double-edged sword for those of us wanting to keep our site traffic up and maintain control over our content. If you’re curious about how to keep your content out of these overviews, you’re in the right place. Let’s get into it!
What are Google SGE AI Overviews?
First things first, let’s break down what Google SGE AI Overviews are. These are snippets that Google generates to give users quick answers by pulling together content from various websites.
While they aim to enhance user experience, they can sometimes reduce the number of visitors coming to your site since users get their answers straight from the search results.
Why You Might Want to Prevent Content from Appearing in SGE AI Overviews
Here are a few reasons why you might not want your content showing up in these overviews:
Real-World Discussion on the Impact of Nosnippet
Recently, Lilly Ray raised an important question on Twitter regarding the use of the nosnippet tag and its impact on AI Overviews:
Lilly Ray: I guess I missed this part: AI Overviews are “subject to preview controls” including Nosnippet (which is used to prevent Google from showing certain text in meta descriptions / featured snippets)
@searchliaison @rustybrick can you confirm that using Nosnippet prevents content from displaying in AI Overviews?
If so, if a publisher uses it across the full page content, does that mean the content will no longer show in AI Overviews?
Seems like a pretty big change…
Barry Schwartz responded, clarifying the impact:
Barry Schwartz: Yes, it can prevent your site from being shown as a link card in the AI Overview if done correctly. It won’t stop your content from being used/indexed but rather displayed.
Lilly Ray then followed up with a realization:
Lilly Ray: lol so if I understand correctly, nosnippet removes the link to your site but doesn’t prevent Google from using that page content for the answer
Can’t imagine a single use case for that but OK.
Aleyda Solis added her perspective on content control:
Aleyda Solis: Indeed! The goal should be to give the ability to users to control if their content is not only linked, but also used as a source for the answers / information in the AI Overview 🙂
Finally, Lilly Ray clarified her understanding:
Lilly Ray: I was mistaken. It looks like this prevents the content from being used in the AI Overview at all (thx for pointing me here @AndyBeard)
Not sure why this isn’t a much bigger deal.
The Catch of Disabling SGE AI Overviews
So, here’s the catch. John Mueller shared a link in his tweet replying to Barry. According to the link, using the nosnippet tag will result in the snippet being excluded from web search, Google Images, Discover, AI Overviews.
The document says: “Do not show a text snippet or video preview in the search results for this page. A static image thumbnail (if available) may still be visible, when it results in a better user experience. This applies to all forms of search results (at Google: web search, Google Images, Discover, AI Overviews) and will also prevent the content from being used as a direct input for AI Overviews.
If you don’t specify this rule, Google may generate a text snippet and video preview based on information found on the page.
To exclude certain sections of your content from appearing in search result snippets, use the data-nosnippet HTML attribute.”
In essence, while the nosnippet tag prevents your content from appearing in snippets, it also stops it from being used as a direct input for AI Overviews. This means your content won’t be shown as part of these overviews at all.
While this might seem like a good way to maintain control, it could also reduce the visibility of your site on Google’s platforms. So, use this feature carefully and consider whether the benefits outweigh the potential drawbacks.
There’s another wrinkle to consider. Google says that links in AI Overviews get more clicks than traditional web search results. Hema Budaraju, the Senior Director of Product and search Generative Experience at Google, told us that the link cards within AI Overviews generate a higher click-through rate (CTR) than traditional web search results. However, in the Google Search Console, Google will not break down impressions and click data for AI Overview links.
Methods to Prevent Content from Appearing in SGE AI Overviews
Alright, now let’s get into the nitty-gritty. Here are the steps you can take to keep your content out of Google SGE AI Overviews:
Best Practices for Implementing Snippet Control
So there you have it! Controlling the appearance of your content in Google SGE AI Overviews requires a strategic approach using meta tags and other HTML attributes. By implementing the methods we’ve discussed, you can maintain greater control over your content’s visibility and how it is presented in search results, ensuring that your website traffic and user engagement are not adversely affected. Happy optimizing!
Dileep Thekkethil
AuthorDileep Thekkethil is the Director of Marketing at Stan Ventures, where he applies over 15 years of SEO and digital marketing expertise to drive growth and authority. A former journalist with six years of experience, he combines strategic storytelling with technical know-how to help brands navigate the shift toward AI-driven search and generative engines. Dileep is a strong advocate for Google’s EEAT standards, regularly sharing real-world use cases and scenarios to demystify complex marketing trends. He is an avid gardener of tropical fruits, a motor enthusiast, and a dedicated caretaker of his pair of cockatiels.
