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Gartner forecast a 25% decline in traditional search engine volume by 2026.

The Claim

Gartner predicts search engine volume will drop 50% by 2026.

Verified by Lenz ·

The Short Version

Gartner forecast a 25% decline in traditional search engine volume by 2026, not 50%. Its separate forecast of a decline of 50% or more concerned brands’ organic search traffic by 2028. The claim conflates two predictions with different figures, measures and deadlines.

Caveats

  • Search engine volume and brands’ organic search traffic are different measures and cannot be used interchangeably.
  • These statements are forecasts, not evidence that the predicted declines have occurred.
  • Many cited articles repeat Gartner’s announcements rather than independently validating the forecasts.

The Receipts

  1. Press Release

    gartner.com

  2. Will traffic from search engines fall 25% by 2026?

    searchengineland.com

  3. 7 Reasons To Be Skeptical of 25% Search Drop by 2026

    searchenginejournal.com

  4. Will Search Engine Traffic Really Drop 25% by 2026, As Gartner Predicts?

    thewrap.com

  5. Search Engine Volume To Drop 25% By 2026 Due To AI Chatbots, Virtual Agents: Gartner

    ndtvprofit.com

  6. Gartner has confirmed the battle for authority is happening right now. Is your agency ready for the aftermath? - Nextgov/FCW

    nextgov.com

  7. Only 20% Of SEOs Think Search Volume Won't Change In Two Years

    seroundtable.com

  8. AI Chatbots and Other Virtual Agents Will Drive Search Engine Volume Down 25% by 2026 Predicts Gartner | Branding in Asia

    brandinginasia.com

  9. VM - Search Engine Volume May Drop 25 Percent by 2026 Due to AI Chatbots

    visionmonday.com

  10. AI cuts overall search demand 29%, FinTech loses 38%, Fractl finds

    ppc.land

+ 10 more sources — see the full list on Lenz

Filed Under

Gartner

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