On March 5, Google unveiled its first core algorithm update of the year, along with several other significant updates aimed at enhancing the quality of search results and reducing the prevalence of low-quality, non-original content created for search engines rather than users. The key improvements include:

- March 2024 Core Update: Google has started rolling out its first core update of the year—the March 2024 Core Update. This update aims to improve search result quality by reducing the proportion of useless content in Google Search. The goal is to decrease the presence of low-quality, non-original content in search results by 40%.
- Integration of the Helpful Content System: Google’s Helpful Content System is now part of its overall core ranking system. This means Google will no longer announce helpful content updates separately, as the Helpful Content System has become an integral part of the core update system.
- Spam Content Updates: In addition to the core update, Google announced a new spam content update (referred to as the March 2024 Spam Update) and updated its spam content policies to align with the release of the March 2024 Core Update.
- Abuse of Automated Content Creation: Google has strengthened its policies against the manipulation of search rankings through the automated generation of large volumes of low-quality or non-original content. This applies regardless of whether the content is generated automatically, manually, or through a combination of both.
- Abuse of Third-Party Website Reputation: Known as “parasitic SEO,” this practice involves publishing low-quality content on high-authority third-party websites to boost search rankings. In March 2024, Google explicitly defined this as spam content, noting that it confuses users and degrades search quality. Google’s new policy states that third-party content published primarily to improve search rankings without strict oversight from the site owner is considered spam. However, this policy does not imply that all third-party content is in violation. Only content hosted without close supervision and intended to manipulate search rankings is deemed spam. Google will enforce this policy starting May 5.
- Abuse of Expired Domains: Occasionally, expired domains are purchased and used to promote low-quality or non-original content, misleading users into thinking the new content is part of the old site. This practice is now also considered spam content.
Compared to previous core updates, this update is more complex and includes improvements to multiple core systems. As a result, rankings may experience more fluctuations than with standard core updates as these systems fully update and reinforce each other.