Google is trying to improve the quality of its search results by directing review teams to flag content that might come across as upsetting or offensive. While flagging something doesn't directly affect the search results themselves, it's used to tweak the company's software so that better content ranks higher. The review teams — comprised of contractors known as "quality raters" — already comb through websites and other content to flag questionable items such as pornography. Google added "upsetting-offensive" in its latest guidelines for quality raters. The guidelines, which run 160 pages, are an interesting look into how Google ranks the quality of its search results.

Source: ABC News March 16, 2017 17:22 UTC