Google becomes more “mobile friendly” by demoting sites that have pop-up ads
Starting 1 November, Google is updating its Mobile Friendly test and is demoting sites that have pop-up app ads. This is in support of Google’s drive to make more sites mobile friendly and less annoying for users. Sites with pop-up ads will now be classed as not “mobile friendly”, which will push the site further down in search rankings. Google recommends using mobile-friendly banners that appear at the top of mobile sites as they “provide the user with the ability to control their browsing experience”. 
Ever search for something on your phone, click through and then be faced with a pop-up app install ad covering up most of the page?

It's annoying, and sometimes you just want to see the one thing on the page rather than downloading the site's app or searching for a hard to find opaque "X" button.

Sure, sometimes its easy to just press the "No, thanks" button, but Google wants more sites to be mobile friendly and less annoying.

So starting 1 November, Google plans on updating its Mobile Friendly test and demoting sites that have pop-up app install prompts that "hides a significant amount of content on the transition from the search result page".

Not friendly

These pages will be classed as not "mobile friendly," which will push the site down in its search rankings.

"As an alternative to app install interstitials, browsers provide ways to promote an app that are more user-friendly," Google said, pointing at the more mobile-friendly banners that appear on top of a mobile site, which asks users if they want to download an app or not.

"Banners provide a consistent user interface for promoting an app and provide the user with the ability to control their browsing experience."

Thank you, Google. Now, if it could push this new Mobile Friendly test to encompass all pop-up ads in mobile sites, not just ads for apps, mobile internet would be a happier place.