Customer Acquisition Risk from Changes to Search Engine Specifications
First written in FY2017. 3 of 6 entries say "Restated". Latest entry: FY2026.
Iid moved to the "Worse" side of this theme in 2026, the same year as the typical company in this theme.
The whole theme swung hardest in 2025: 10 of 27 companies on the "Worse" side.
10 other companies' latest entry also says "Worsened".
- FY2026WorsenedAnnual report
「If changes in the algorithms used by search engines cause search-result rankings to fluctuate, or if the spread of search services using generative AI changes how users obtain information, this may affect traffic acquisition for the group's Web media platforms and content and its revenue opportunities, and may have a material impact on the group's business performance.」
The company explicitly identified, in addition to the existing risk of fluctuations in search rankings, changes in information-gathering behaviour resulting from generative AI search and the potential impact on revenue opportunities. - 2026-05-15WorsenedFinancial Results Presentation
「Declining traffic resulting from search being replaced by AI.」
In addition to the conventional customer-acquisition risk from changes in search-engine specifications, declining traffic caused by AI replacing search was identified as a factor. - FY2024RestatedAnnual report
「If a search engine changes its algorithms and the order in which search results are displayed changes, this may affect traffic acquisition for the group's Web media platforms and content and may have a material impact on the group's business performance.」
The company continues to disclose the risk that changes in search engine specifications may affect traffic acquisition and business performance. - FY2020RestatedAnnual report
「The Web media platforms and content operated by the group attract many users from search engines such as Google. Although we will continue to take necessary measures, including SEO, to strengthen traffic acquisition from search engines, if a search engine changes its algorithms and the order in which search results are displayed changes, this may affect traffic acquisition for the group's Web media platforms and content and may have a material impact on the group's business performance.」
The company continues to describe its dependence on traffic acquisition from search engines and the potential impact of algorithm changes on page views and business performance. - FY2018RestatedAnnual report
「Although we will take necessary measures, including SEO, to strengthen traffic acquisition from search engines, if a search engine changes its algorithms and the order in which search results are displayed changes, this may affect traffic acquisition for the group's Web media platforms and content and may have a material impact on the group's business performance.」
While pursuing SEO measures, the company continues to disclose the risk that changes in search engine algorithms may affect traffic acquisition and business performance. - FY2017First statedAnnual report
「If a search engine changes its algorithms and the order in which search results are displayed changes, this may affect traffic acquisition for the group's Web media platforms and content and may have a material impact on the group's business performance.」
The company described its dependence on traffic acquisition from search engines such as Google and the potential impact on business performance of changes in search rankings.