Bing Webmaster Tools announced a significant change that could affect website owners and SEO professionals who use the disavow links feature.
Effective October 2023, the platform will eliminate the disavow links feature and corresponding API. The decision is part of Bing’s effort to streamline its services and improve user experience.
What Is The Disavow Links Feature
Initially launched in 2012, the disavow links feature offered a mechanism for website owners to indicate which incoming links should not be considered by Bing when evaluating the quality and relevance of their sites.
This feature was crucial in countering negative SEO attacks, wherein malicious entities could create or buy spammy backlinks to harm a competitor’s ranking.
Bing To Identify Spammy Links Using AI
In the announcement, Bing explained that advancements in their artificial intelligence technology have negated the need for manual link disavowal.
Bing’s updated algorithms now possess enhanced capabilities for discerning the “context and intent” behind links, thereby separating legitimate links from those deemed unnatural or unreliable.
The implication is that website owners can rely on Bing’s AI to automatically discount low-quality links, sparing them the labor and resources traditionally needed for manual auditing.
Website Owners Encouraged To Follow Guidelines
Website owners and marketers are encouraged to remain vigilant about Bing’s guidelines on link schemes, link buying, and link spamming, as failing to comply can result in a website being delisted from Bing’s index.
Nevertheless, the company reaffirmed its commitment to providing valuable information through its backlink report feature, giving website owners some insight into their link profiles.
Fabrice Canel, Principal Program Manager of Bing Webmaster Tools, concluded the statement by thanking users for their continuous support and encouraged feedback and questions via Bing’s help center or support channels.
Removing the disavow links feature in Bing Webmaster Tools demonstrates the continued increase in reliance on AI technologies, making traditional link management tools less necessary.
Featured image: IB Photography/Shutterstock
