Google has intentionally disabled the blog's pageviews widget to hide the performance of the blog
For more than a decade, independent journalists and bloggers
have relied on Google’s Blogger platform to publish stories, track readership,
and measure impact. Pageview statistics are not a luxury—they are a
fundamental tool for transparency, credibility, and audience engagement.
When Google suddenly disables this feature without warning,
explanation, or a timeline for restoration, it does more than inconvenience
writers. It undermines trust, silences independent voices, and disrupts the
work of journalists who depend on accurate analytics to demonstrate reach and
relevance.
As an African journalist living in Europe, I have spent
years documenting injustices, exposing discrimination, and giving a voice to
communities that mainstream media often ignores. My work depends on visibility.
When Google disables pageviews, it directly affects my ability to show the
world that these stories matter and that people are reading them.
A Silent Form of Censorship
Google may not call it censorship, but the effect is the
same. When a platform removes a critical tool that helps journalists measure
their audience, it weakens their influence. Pageviews are more than numbers —
they are evidence. They help writers:
• Demonstrate
readership to advocacy organizations
• Track
which topics resonate with the public
• Build
credibility with partners and institutions
• Protect
their work from being dismissed or erased
Without pageviews, independent journalists are left in the
dark. It becomes easier for powerful institutions to ignore or undermine their
work.
A Call for Transparency and Accountability
Google owes its users—especially journalists, activists,
and marginalized voices—a clear explanation. Why were pageviews disabled? Why
is there no communication? Why is there no timeline for restoration?
A company that controls such a large portion of the world’s
information ecosystem has a responsibility to act transparently. Silence is
unacceptable.
The Impact on African Journalists in the Diaspora
For African writers in Europe, visibility is already a
struggle. Our stories are often sidelined, our experiences minimized, and our
voices questioned. Pageviews help prove that our work resonates globally. They
show that people care about the injustices we expose.
When Google removes this tool, it disproportionately harms
those who are already fighting to be heard.
Google Must Act Now
Restoring pageviews is not a technical favor — it is a
matter of fairness, transparency, and respect for the global community of
independent journalists who rely on Blogger.
Google must:
• Restore
the pageview feature immediately
• Provide a
public explanation for the disruption
• Commit to
transparency in future platform changes
Independent journalism is already under pressure from
censorship, discrimination, and shrinking media spaces. Tech giants should not
add to that burden.
