Google has announced a crackdown on back button hijacking, a deceptive practice that prevents users from leaving a website. Following a new policy update, sites using this tactic will face significant drops in search engine rankings starting June 15.
What is Back Button Hijacking?
This technique manipulates a browser's history to disable the standard functionality of the "back" button. Instead of returning to previous results, users are trapped on the current page or redirected to unsolicited advertisements and pages they never intended to visit.
Impact on SEO
To ensure a better user experience, Google’s algorithm will proactively penalize domains that interfere with browser navigation. Website owners and developers must ensure their sites allow for standard navigation to avoid losing visibility in search results.
