[Updated] Google Search team downplays missing image thumbnails in SERPs

10:25 am (IST): In response to even more complaints about missing image thumbnails in Google’s search engine results pages (SERPs), John Mueller from the Google Search Relations team clarified that the absence of thumbnails is not due to technical issues on either Google’s or the websites’ sides. According to Mueller, the issue is related to how Google’s systems evaluate websites during core updates, which includes decisions on whether to display thumbnails.

As a result, there is no immediate technical fix, but improvements might occur over time as core updates continue and as Google refines its systems. In the meantime, Mueller recommended that site owners focus on overall site improvement, ensure proper structured data implementation, and verify there are no technical problems like issues with robots.txt, broken links, or bot protection that could affect thumbnail display.

Original article from June 14 follows:

Google Search users have been grappling with a persistent issue of missing image thumbnails in search results, an issue that first surfaced in early 2024 and has reappeared several times since. Despite multiple reports and complaints, Google’s response has been lackluster, to say the least.

In a recent episode of the “Search Off the Record” podcast, the Google Search team made some candid remarks about the issue of missing image thumbnails in Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). Despite complaints from site owners, the Google Search team has effectively downplayed the issue, suggesting it doesn’t warrant significant attention.

For months, some website owners have reported a troubling problem: their image thumbnails have disappeared from Google search results. This issue has occurred in two significant waves, first in late January and then again in mid-March, and it’s continuing to affect numerous websites to date. Rich snippets such as image thumbnails are crucial for visibility; their absence can significantly reduce click-through rates (CTR), thus impacting traffic and search rankings.

During the podcast, the team discussed various “troubles” in search, ranging from indexing issues to minor outages. When the topic of missing image thumbnails was broached, Gary Illyes, one of the hosts, bluntly stated, “Users will literally just not get the images. It’s not like something is broken. They will just not see certain images on the search result pages.” This dismissive attitude suggests that, from Google’s perspective, the problem is not severe enough to warrant immediate action.

Gary further emphasized that the team doesn’t consider the issue a priority because, in their view, Google Search is “still usable and still everything is dandy except some images.” Lizzi Sassman added that while the experience might be degraded, it doesn’t meet the threshold of urgency required for a public announcement or intervention. From this, the team’s stance seems to be that as long as the missing images don’t significantly disrupt the user experience, the problem isn’t worth fixing. However, this ignores the detrimental impact on website owners, who are experiencing a “significant competitive disadvantage” due to the missing thumbnails.

John Mueller, another podcast host and member of the Search team, highlighted a key point suggesting that Google seems to act only when there is significant external pressure. “If there’s more pressure on us externally, we would externalize it,” John remarked. This means that unless enough site owners and users make noise about the missing image thumbnails in search results, Google might continue to ignore it. Gary confirmed this by stating, “The louder people are externally, the more likely Google will say something.”

This approach effectively places the burden on site owners to generate enough noise. If the issue doesn’t meet a certain threshold of complaints or public outcry, Google’s Search Relations team sees it as a minor inconvenience rather than a critical problem.

This stance by Google is alarming. Site owners rely on rich snippets to enhance their visibility and attract clicks. The absence of image thumbnails can drastically reduce CTR, leaving sites at a competitive disadvantage. Despite this, Google’s position suggests that the issue, while frustrating, doesn’t significantly impact the overall user experience from their point of view.

Google’s response has shown that without substantial external pressure, minor issues like missing image thumbnails in search results may remain unresolved. It’s time for the community to rally and ensure that our concerns are heard loud and clear.