We’re all very familiar with Google search results. Linked sites are shown in blue text (unless you’ve already clicked that link), and the text related to that link is in black. Now the tech giant is testing a move that has users confused: making all search results text black.
While Google has used red links in China, the revamped search result links are the company’s first real departure from their iconic blue links that came with the launch of the search engine.
9to5 Google reports that Google’s typical sea of blue unread links have transformed into black links for some users as part of an A/B test Google is reportedly performing on the back end of its network.
Not all users are seeing the change, and those who have seen the new links won’t see them each time they conduct a search on Google.
Previously, when a blue link was clicked, it would turn purple. The new system leaves these links black, a move some users say is confusing.
While the company hasn’t confirmed the tests, many users who have been targeted by the tests have posted screen grabs of the black links on Twitter, expressing their surprise with the new results.
Google testing black links instead of blue in search results [9to5 Google]
by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist