Google Bug Causes Reviews to Disappear from Local Listings

Starting this past Friday, Google seems to be showing fewer and fewer reviews on Google local listings. It appears to be a bug that Google is working to fix.

If you noticed that your local business listing on Google is showing fewer reviews, you are not alone. Since Friday, numerous reviews have been disappearing from local listings within Google Search and Google Maps.

More Details

On Friday, the issue was reported on the Search Engine Roundtable, initially uncertain whether it was a bug or an intended change. Shortly after, dozens of complaint threads emerged in the Google Business Profiles forums from concerned small business owners and local SEOs.

Some businesses reported losing only a handful of reviews, while others experienced the disappearance of dozens of positive reviews. Additionally, some users indicated that while the count of reviews appeared incorrect, the reviews themselves were not missing.

Likely a Bug

Joy Hawkins, a well-known local SEO expert and Google Top Contributor, later confirmed that this is a bug and that Google is actively working to resolve the issue.

Why This Matters

If your business has lost a significant number of reviews on its local listing, rest assured that this is a widespread issue. Many Google Business Profile listings have been affected, and it is expected that Google will restore the missing reviews soon.

At this time, Google has not provided an official comment on the matter.

Update – Google’s Response

Victoria Kroll from Google posted a statement in the forums addressing the issue, though further details on a resolution are still pending.

Conclusion

The disappearance of reviews from Google’s local listings highlights the impact of technical glitches on digital assets. While Google has acknowledged the problem, businesses should remain vigilant in monitoring their listings. Encouraging customers to leave new reviews, staying informed about updates, and leveraging multiple review platforms can help mitigate potential disruptions. Hopefully, Google will restore the missing reviews soon, ensuring that businesses regain their valuable social proof and credibility.