Google Wraps Up December 2025 Core Search Algorithm Update
On December 29, 2025, Google proudly announced the successful completion of its December 2025 core update. This marks the third significant search algorithm update of the year. The rollout, which initiated on December 11, spanned over 18 days, causing notable ranking volatility across a broad range of website categories.
The core update is designed to prioritize high-quality content that provides real value to users, while penalizing manipulative tactics and low-quality, AI-generated spam. The industries that felt the most impact include:
- E-commerce: 52% of sites impacted
- Health and Medical Content: 67% affected
- Affiliate Sites: 71% affected
Google has emphasized that the update aims to “better surface relevant, satisfying content for searchers from all types of sites.” The focus is particularly on Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) signals.
Website owners experienced two major volatility spikes during the rollout, specifically on December 13 and December 20. SEO experts have reported that the update has improved the detection of AI-assisted content. Google is rewarding sites that use AI tools ethically and with human oversight, while penalizing those that rely on unedited AI output.
This update follows the previous core updates in March and June 2025. Site owners are now in a position to assess the full impact and initiate recovery efforts.
Source: Search Engine Land