- Website owners must remove such scripts immediately.
Back Button Hijacking: If you have ever pressed the back button on a website and still were not able to exit that page, then you have experienced Back Button Hijacking. This is a trick in which some websites interfere with the user’s browser control and force them to stay on the page or send them to other unwanted sites. Now Google has decided to take strict action against such activities.
What is Back Button Hijacking?
Normally when a user presses the back button of the browser, he wants to return to the previous page. But Back Button Hijacking spoils this normal process. In this, websites use some such scripts or tricks due to which the user remains stuck in the same site even after going back or is sent to a page where he had never visited before. Many times forced advertisements or unwanted suggestions are also shown.
Why is Google banning it?
Google believes that user experience is most important. Back Button Hijacking breaks the user’s trust and confuses him. According to the company, this type of technology creates a gap between user expectations and actual experience, which not only causes problems but can also sometimes impact security and privacy. For this reason, Google has clearly declared it wrong under its spam and malicious practices policy.
What will be the impact on websites?
For information, let us tell you that now the websites which use such wrong methods may have to face punishment. Their search ranking may be reduced or manual action may be taken against them. This rule will be implemented from June 15, 2026 so that website owners can get time to make changes.
What should website owners do?
Google has clearly said that websites should not use any script or technique that prevents the user from using the back button. If any such feature is already present in any site then it is necessary to remove or disable it immediately. Back Button Hijacking may seem like a small trick but it spoils the user experience.
Also read:
If you get 5 lakh views on YouTube, how much will you earn? Know how much money you will get on one video