Introduction to the Yoast SEO Bug
Yoast SEO recently released an update to fix a bug that introduced a known fingerprint of AI-generated content. The bug was highlighted on social media, and Yoast corrected the error within hours. This bug was significant because it allowed savvy SEOs to identify AI-generated content that was directly copied and pasted into a WordPress editor.
What is the Bug?
The bug occurred when a user copied a block of text from a live web page or a Microsoft Word document and then pasted it into a WordPress editor. The underlying formatting from the original document was also pasted into the editor, which included HTML "classes" code. This code was only visible within the HTML, not on the published content. The HTML classes injected into the content were "data-start" and "data-end".
How Does the Bug Work?
To understand how the bug works, let’s consider an example. When a user generates content using ChatGPT, highlights the text, copies it, and then pastes it into a WordPress editor, the HTML classes are injected into the content. These classes are not visible on the published content but can be seen in the HTML code. For instance:
“He thought no one would notice—
the quiet hum of the AI
churning out words
like it knew something.
Google noticed.
Now he shelves canned beans at Safeway.”
However, when the content is published, it appears as:
“He thought no one would notice—
the quiet hum of the AI
churning out words
like it knew something.
Google noticed.
Now he shelves canned beans at Safeway.”
Yoast SEO Premium and the Bug
The bug was specifically related to Yoast SEO Premium, which has a feature called Yoast AI Optimize. This feature allows users to generate AI content directly within the WordPress editor. However, the bug caused the "data-start" and "data-end" HTML classes to be injected into the content. Alan Bleiweiss, a content audit expert, highlighted the issue on social media, stating that Yoast was injecting "AI wrappers" into the content without the site owner’s permission.
Yoast’s Response to the Bug
Yoast swiftly responded to the issue by releasing an update, version 25.3.1, which fixed the bug. The update removed the injected HTML classes from the content, and Yoast also automatically cleaned up the unintended classes for users who were already affected. According to Yoast, the issue was resolved, and no action was needed from the users.
Potential Impact on Rankings
It’s unlikely that the bug had a significant impact on search rankings, as the injected HTML classes do not indicate anything about the content quality. However, it’s still essential for users of the premium version of the Yoast SEO plugin to update to version 25.3.1 to fix any potential issues.
Preventing Buggy Releases
This is not the first time Yoast has released a buggy update. In the past, they have pushed updates that created duplicate sitemaps and generated hundreds of thin pages. These issues could have been avoided if Yoast had thoroughly tested their plugin before releasing it. Given the stakes with AI-generated content, it’s crucial for plugin developers to test their output and underlying code before releasing updates.
Conclusion
The Yoast SEO bug highlights the importance of thoroughly testing plugin updates before releasing them. While the bug has been fixed, it’s essential for users to update their plugins to prevent any potential issues. The incident also serves as a reminder for plugin developers to prioritize testing and quality assurance to avoid releasing buggy updates that can impact users’ websites and search rankings.