Posts: Google’s new search feature ensures you get information from verified sources

Google to show up-to-date posts from verified people, places or things, directly in search results.

Google ‘Posts’ that brings results from verified users now in India (Reuters)

Google has made a big change to its Search, delivering content directly from sources to users. For instance, if you search the movie "Tiger Zinda Hain", Google will serve you information and updates directly from the source. Called "Posts", the feature will be integrated in the collection of "cards" that appear in a search result (the Knowledge Panel).

"To get started, do a Google search for the name you want to claim, click on the little sentence under the 'Knowledge Panel' asking if you manage the online presence, and follow the instructions," the company wrote in a blog post.

"It's fast and easy to publish text, images, videos and events, which show up instantly in search results on both desktop and mobile. It's also easy to schedule the timing and duration of a post and you'll even get updates on how many people see and interact with your content," it added.

The search engine giant currently displays description, news articles, tweets and links related to the topic in its search. In addition, users will now find images, videos, GIFs, events, and polls posted directly by the person or organisation being searched for.

Apart from "Tiger Zinda Hain", users can see results in a similar format on searching "Indian Super League."

Google's new feature comes shortly after the company started testing a new search feature that lets celebrities directly respond to users' search queries.

For example, if a user searches that how many languages Priyanka Chopra speaks, Google will serve the answer directly from the celebrity in the "form of selfie-style videos with a uniquely personal, authentic and delightful touch", according to Google.

Google's latest approach can also be considered as part of a bigger effort by internet companies to crack down on misinformation and unverified data on their platforms. Apart from Google, Twitter and Facebook have taken several measures in this regard.

Facebook's Director of News Alexandra Hardiman at Hindustan Times Leadership Summit (HTLS) said that the social networking giant was using cutting-edge technology such as Artificial Intelligence to tackle the menace of fake news.

"We want to make sure that everyone who comes to Facebook will know that they get high-quality, credible news," Hardiman had said.