Why Anonymous Reddit Users Beat Experts in Google Rankings?

On LinkedIn, an SEO expert asked why an anonymous Reddit user could rank higher than a reputable website with a well-known author. Google's response provided insight into how search rankings are formed and why Reddit can outperform expert articles.

"I was referring to how important author authority is now. If we search for 'best product up to X amount', we see, say, PCMag and Reddit both on the first page. PCMag is a reliable source for that product, and Reddit has UGC and certainly does not guarantee authenticity. How do you see it in terms of authority? In my opinion, Google should focus more on this, especially after the AI boom, when misinformation can be easily and massively Do you think this is an important factor in the ratings?”

Google's John Mueller answered this question by noting that there are many kinds of websites, not just those that are considered authoritative. The concept of authority is only one aspect of a website. Mueller reminded us that search (and SEO) has many dimensions.

"They're both websites, but they're quite different, aren't they? Finding the right tools for your needs, the right platforms for your audience and for your message is more than just that simplification. Google is committed to providing search results that are relevant and useful to users, and there are many things involved."

🚀 Most Reddit users, in my opinion, do not have enough authority in certain contexts. When it comes to recipes, I'd prefer the opinion of a food blogger or serious expert, not what a random Reddit user "thinks" a recipe should be.

• 📌 However, when it comes to product reviews, Reddit is quite the authority. A person on Reddit sharing their experience with a particular brand of deep fryer or cell phone is the epitome of what Google is trying to rank for reviews because it is the opinion of a person with days, weeks, months, years of actual experience with the product.
• 📌 This is one of the aspects of the search that the person who asked the question did not take into account - the direct experience of the reviewer. And it illustrates what Mueller is talking about when he says that "it's worth looking at more than just the simplification" of what ranks in search results.