Google Says SEO Changes Are Fine If They Help Users
Google clarified that it’s perfectly acceptable to make changes to a website for SEO purposes—provided those changes genuinely benefit users. Updating metadata, improving internal linking, and optimizing for core web vitals are all legitimate practices when done with user experience in mind. However, manipulative tactics like keyword stuffing, cloaking, or creating thin content are discouraged. Google's stance remains clear: improvements aligned with their quality guidelines and that enhance user satisfaction are encouraged. This clarification helps webmasters differentiate between ethical SEO and exploitative shortcuts that could result in ranking penalties over time.