Users are outraged after discovering Google has removed key dates from its calendar feature, leading to frustration and backlash.
Recently, Google Calendar faced backlash after users discovered that several important cultural and historical dates had been removed for 2025.
These dates include significant observances like Black History Month, Pride Month, and Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Many people were shocked and disappointed by this change, leading to calls for action against the tech giant.
Google users discover several key dates have been deleted from calendar
The removal of these dates means that events that recognize important moments in history are no longer visible in Google Calendar.
In previous years, users could easily find these observances marked on their calendars.
For many, these dates serve as reminders of important cultural events and celebrations.
The news broke when users started to notice the missing dates, prompting them to take to social media to express their outrage.
Comments flooded platforms like X, with many users criticizing Google for its decision.
One user remarked: Google picking and choosing what matters now? This is a bad look.
Another user declared: We will be using Yahoo instead of this mess.
The second user added: They post too many, just too much clutter.
The third user commented: Yes, much too crowded. We should probably take Easter, Christmas, and all the rest off Google calendar, too.
We can keep up with when we are off work or want to celebrate something, as you said. Who needs calendars at all, really?
Someone said: Well how about removing Columbus Day then, since a lot of people don’t celebrate.
A call for recognition
Many users feel that recognizing these dates is crucial.
They argue that these observances are not just holidays; they represent vital parts of history and culture.
One user expressed their concern, saying, “It’s such an important time that those holiday months should be acknowledged.”
This sentiment was echoed by others who believe that erasing these dates is a step backward in acknowledging social progress.
Google responds to the criticism
In response to the backlash, a spokesperson from Google provided some context.
They explained that for many years, Google Calendar had worked with a site called timeanddate.com to include national holidays and observances.
However, they decided to simplify the process.
The spokesperson noted that maintaining a wide range of cultural moments was not sustainable.
Therefore, the calendar would now only show public holidays and national observances.
While this explanation clarifies the decision, many users remain unconvinced.
They feel that Google should still recognize significant cultural moments, especially those that represent marginalized communities.
The removal of these dates seems to many as a lack of support for diversity and inclusion.
“For over a decade we’ve worked with timeanddate.com to show public holidays and national observances in Google Calendar,” they responded.
“Some years ago, the Calendar team started manually adding a broader set of cultural moments in a wide number of countries around the world.
“We got feedback that some other events and countries were missing — and maintaining hundreds of moments manually and consistently globally wasn’t scalable or sustainable.
“So in mid-2024, we returned to showing only public holidays and national observances from timeanddate.com globally, while allowing users to manually add other important moments.”
Political shifts influence corporate decisions and policies.
The decision to remove these key dates is part of a broader trend that reflects political and social shifts in the United States.
Recent political changes, particularly after the inauguration of the new president, have influenced various companies to align with specific ideologies.
For instance, there have been changes made to other Google services, like Google Maps, in response to political pressures.
