Google has cut the follower bar for a public Search profile by roughly two thirds, though for now the change is US-only and still rewards a sizeable audience.
Google has lowered the audience it takes to qualify for a public Search profile, the Google-hosted page that pulls a brand's or creator's social accounts, websites, videos, posts and links into one place and shows it in Google Search under their name. According to Google's own eligibility page, you now need 35,000 followers or subscribers on a single supported platform (YouTube, Instagram or X), or 100,000 on TikTok, and you must be at least 18. Social Media Today reported the reduction in mid-August 2026, noting the feature first launched in June at higher bars of 100,000 and 300,000. Google shared the news through its Google for Creators channel and a short video rather than a formal Search Central post, so there is no single blog announcement to point to, as Android Authority also observed.
When someone searches your name, the profile can show your latest posts, a header image, a link through to the full page, and a knowledge-panel presence that may carry an AI-written summary drawn from your bio. People can follow you straight from the search result, which turns a name search into a distribution channel.
Worth watching, not yet a task for most Australian and UK firms
Two things temper the excitement for a professional-services audience. The profile is available only in the United States for now, with Google saying it plans to expand to other countries later in the year, so firms in Australia and the UK cannot claim one yet. And even at the lower bar, it still rewards a large social following, which most accounting, legal and advisory practices are not chasing.
Still, the direction is worth noting. Google is building a branded, followable surface inside its own results, and widening who can hold one. If it reaches your market, a verified profile becomes another way for the right people to find you by name and keep seeing your updates. For now, the sensible move is to keep your public profiles accurate and your business name consistent across platforms, so you are ready if eligibility opens where you work.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Google Search profile?
It is a Google-hosted page that collects your social accounts, websites, videos and links in one place and appears in Google Search under your name. Searchers can see your latest posts and follow you directly from the result.
Do I qualify now?
You need at least 35,000 followers or subscribers on YouTube, Instagram or X, or 100,000 on TikTok, on a single platform, and you must be 18 or older. These are the reduced thresholds; the feature launched in June 2026 at 100,000 and 300,000.
Can I get one in Australia or the UK?
Not yet. Google lists the feature as available in the United States only, with expansion to other countries planned later in 2026. Firms outside the US cannot claim a profile for the moment.
Should my firm do anything about this?
For most professional-services firms there is nothing to action today, both because of the US-only limit and the follower bar. The practical step is to keep your public profiles and business name consistent, so you are ready if the feature reaches your market.
