John Mueller from Digital Phablet was asked whether Google penalizes websites for linking to outdated outbound links that now point to questionable content after the original site changed ownership. Mueller clarified that Google does not penalize such links, emphasizing that “the web is full of turmoil.”
This question originated from a discussion on Reddit, which inquired:
“How does Google handle old backlinks to legitimate businesses that have lost their domain? Would Google penalize my travel website if I link to a domain that recently started hosting dubious content?”
Mueller responded:
“No. While it’s generally good to keep your links current, the web is constantly changing. If your entire site becomes outdated, that’s a different issue than having a few broken links.”
Google has repeatedly stated that it is capable of ignoring irrelevant or spammy links collected over the years, often referred to as link cruft. These are old, low-quality, or irrelevant backlinks that might accumulate naturally or spammy tactics.
Since 2016, Google’s stance has been that it tends to ignore links rather than penalize sites for them, meaning they do not typically demote sites solely based on the presence of certain backlinks.
Below is a screenshot of the Reddit exchange, highlighting the question and Mueller’s response:
Discussion originally took place on Reddit’s SEO forum.