Google's August 2025 Spam Update: What You Need to Know

Well, well, well…look who finally showed up. After eight months of silence on the spam front, Google popped in on August 26, 2025, with its first official spam update of the year. 

According to the announcement, it’s your average spam update. But when Google says “normal,” we still pay attention. This one’s rolling out over the next few weeks, and it’s a global update, meaning everyone will be impacted, despite their niche, language, or location.

Here’s what you need to know about Google’s August 2025 spam update and how it could affect your website.

Key Details of the Update

• Announcement Date: August 26, 2025, at 12:05 p.m.
• Rollout Period: A few weeks (global rollout, all languages).
• Update Type: Normal spam update.
• Context: First Google update since the June 2025 Core Update; first spam update since December 2024.

Google’s set to confirm on the Search Status Dashboard when the rollout is complete.

Why Does Google Keep Dropping Spam Updates?

You might be wondering, “What’s with all the spam updates? Isn’t Google already filtering out the junk?”

Yes and no.

Google’s always working behind the scenes to keep search results clean, helpful, and not flooded with garbage. That’s where their AI-powered spam-fighting system, SpamBrain, comes in. Think of it as Google’s bouncer, scanning every search result to keep out the shady stuff.

But even SpamBrain needs a tune-up now and then. When Google rolls out a spam update, it’s essentially upgrading SpamBrain to get better at spotting new tricks and manipulative tactics. These updates help it stay one step ahead of the spammers (who, let’s face it, are always cooking up something new).

Every spam update makes Google sharper at recognizing what doesn’t belong, which is great news for legit, high-quality sites...and not-so-great news for anyone cutting corners.

What This Means for Your Site

If your rankings start acting up or your traffic graph suddenly looks like a rollercoaster, this spam update might be the reason.

Google hasn’t dropped a full breakdown of what tactics it’s cracking down on this time, but based on past spam updates, here are the usual suspects:

• Link spam: Unnatural or manipulative linking strategies.
• Thin or low-value content: Pages that exist primarily to manipulate rankings rather than provide real value.
• Cloaking or sneaky redirects: Presenting one version of a page to users and another to search engines.
• Malicious or harmful behavior: Phishing, malware, or deceptive practices.
• Scraped Content: Stealing and republishing content from other sources without adding any original value.
• AI-Generated Content: Publishing content that is automatically generated for the sole purpose of manipulating search rankings.

Bottom line? If your site is above board and built to help people (not just chase rankings), you’re likely in the clear. But if you’ve been dabbling in questionable SEO tactics, this update could leave a mark.

What to Do If Your Rankings Take a Dip

If your rankings are wobbling or your traffic took a weird turn, don’t panic. This spam update might be the culprit, but it’s also your cue to tighten things up.

Here’s how to respond like a pro:

• Review Google’s spam policies: They’ll help you ensure your website follows all best practices.
• Review Google Search Console: You can find manual actions if you have any against you, and gain insights into what sections of your site have been hit the most.
• Audit backlinks: Use a tool to review the quality of websites linking to you. If you have low quality backlinks, or have used a service in the past to “gain” backlinks - disavow those links and begin focusing on content publishing and more natural ways to gain backlinks.
• Improve content quality: Focus on creating original, helpful, and user-focused content.
• Check technical integrity: Eliminate cloaking, doorway pages, or manipulative redirects.
• Ensure transparency: Avoid misleading practices that may violate Google’s guidelines.

For link-related spam updates in particular, it’s important to note that cleaning them up won’t bring back your old rankings. Google neutralizes bad links, not penalizes them, so once that boost is gone, it’s gone. But doing the cleanup still matters, because it gets your site back on solid ground for the long run.

Why This Update Matters

Google drops updates all the time, and it’s easy to tune them out like background noise. But this one is worth tuning into.

It’s the first algorithm adjustment we’ve seen since June’s Core Update and the first spam-specific update since way back in December. Translation: Google’s dusting off the filters, tightening things up, and setting a new tone for what’s “acceptable” in the SERPs.

And if you’re a business owner or digital marketer, that matters. While some sites might coast through untouched, others could see serious shifts in visibility, rankings, and traffic.

Spam updates are like a gut check. They punish shady tactics and reward the brands doing it right. So, whether you’re soaring or sliding post-update, it’s a reminder of the SEO truth we live by at BFO:

Long-term success = quality + trust + consistency.

BFO’s Take: We Stay Ahead of Spam Updates (So You Don’t Have To)

At Be Found Online, we treat updates like this as more than algorithmic reshuffles. Instead, they're opportunities.

• For clients already focused on quality SEO, this update is good news. It rewards sites that follow best practices and deliver value to users.
• For sites seeing declines, it’s a signal that deeper cleanup and compliance work is needed.

Our team actively monitors performance across every client account when algorithm changes roll out. That means we're already tracking how this August 2025 update is playing out in real time—looking for trends, identifying opportunities, and adjusting strategies as needed.

Final Thoughts: Keep Calm and SEO On

Google’s spam update is the latest reminder of a truth we’ve been emphasizing for years: quality wins, always.

If you’ve seen a shakeup in your rankings, or if you’re unsure whether your site might be accidentally flirting with spam signals, don’t stress. That’s what we’re here for.

We’ll help you figure out what’s going on and strengthen the stuff that sets your site apart.

Reach out to us to review your site’s SEO health and make sure your business is ready for whatever Google throws at us next!