If you’ve recently noticed your Google reviews disappearing, you’re not alone. Since Friday, February 7th, small business owners and SEO experts have been reporting missing or miscounted reviews on their Google Business Profiles. While some initially thought it was a display glitch, it turns out that even legitimate reviews from real customers have vanished.
This isn’t just a small glitch. Some businesses have lost one or two reviews, while others are seeing dozens disappear overnight. If your Google reviews are a crucial part of your online reputation (which they are), this can be a major concern.
When Did This Start?
Reports suggest that the issue began on Friday, February 7th. Discussions on Google Business Profile forums exploded with complaints from small business owners who noticed their review counts dropping.
At first, many assumed it was a simple display issue. Maybe a bug that would quickly be fixed. However, after pulling review data from Google’s API and Google Maps scrapers, some users found that the reviews still existed in Google’s system but weren’t being displayed properly.
Why Are Google Reviews Disappearing?
There’s no official response from Google yet, but there are a few possible explanations:
A Google Bug: This could be an unexpected glitch in Google’s system that is hiding (but not deleting) reviews. Similar issues have happened before, such as a review bug in late 2022 that Google later acknowledged and fixed.
A New Filtering System: Google frequently updates its spam detection algorithms to remove fake or low-quality reviews. However, in this case, genuine customer reviews seem to be disappearing, which raises concerns about whether a flawed filter is mistakenly removing real feedback.
A Silent Google Update: Google may have rolled out a new review policy or enforcement system that is affecting legitimate reviews. However, without an official announcement, this is still speculation.
What Should You Do?
Right now, the best course of action is to wait it out. Google is reportedly aware of the issue, and if it’s a bug, they will likely fix it soon. Here’s what you can do in the meantime:
- Monitor Your Business Profile: Keep checking if your reviews return or if the review count changes again.
- Don’t Panic: This appears to be a widespread issue affecting businesses across different industries, not just yours.
- Hold Off on Reporting (For Now): While it’s tempting to flood Google’s support forums, waiting a few days for an official update is a smarter approach. If your reviews don’t come back soon, then you can escalate the issue.
Final Thoughts
Google reviews play a crucial role in online visibility and customer trust, so their sudden disappearance is a big deal for businesses. The good news is that this is likely a temporary issue. The bad news is that without clear communication from Google, businesses are left in the dark.