Websites that fail to restrict spam user-generated content (UGC) will be penalised with a manual penalty action, resulting in decreased site traffic, as per Google.
Google has published a blog post advising publishers on combating UGC spam on websites. Forums, guestbooks, social media platforms, file uploaders, free hosting services and internal search services are listed as problematic UGC areas, as per Google.
Spammers and link builders often build profiles on forums to leave a spam link in the profile. However, forum spammers hide links within forum posts by making their links black, to stop them from turning into blue, thereby evading detection.
The tech giant listed tips to find and prevent spam, including blocking automated accounts, turning on moderation features, monitoring “spammy” content and more. Further, using Google Alerts is recommended to receive notifications about when such content is being created.
[3 minute read]
