In mid-2024, Google quietly removed cultural observances such as Pride Month, Black History Month, Indigenous Peoples Month, Jewish Heritage Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and Hispanic Heritage Month from its Google Calendar app. The move, which has sparked widespread debate, leaves only public holidays and national observances in the default view.
Google’s decision has led to backlash from users and raised concerns about the role of big tech in shaping cultural awareness. Here’s a closer look at why the change was made, how people have reacted, and what it means for users.
Why Did Google Remove Cultural Events?
Google says the primary reason for the removal was scalability. A company spokesperson explained that adding and maintaining hundreds of cultural moments across different countries had become unsustainable. Instead, Google now relies on data from timeanddate.com, a widely used source for official national holidays.
In short: The company opted for a simpler and automated approach instead of manually curating events.
User Backlash and Criticism
Many users were not happy with this change. Social media platforms saw complaints, with some accusing Google of catering to political pressure. Critics argue that the move follows a broader trend of companies scaling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, particularly in response to recent U.S. government policies.
One user expressed frustration, writing:
“Calendar used to respect history and culture. Now it erases it. Reinstate these dates!”
Others have pointed out that public holidays remain untouched, raising questions about which events Google considers worthy of inclusion.
Google’s Response
Google insists that the removal was not politically motivated but rather a decision to make its calendar more manageable and efficient.
The company also noted that users can manually add cultural observances to their personal calendars or subscribe to third-party calendar extensions that include these events.
What This Means for Users
- Cultural observances are no longer preloaded into Google Calendar.
- Users must manually add events if they want them to appear.
- Public holidays remain visible by default.
- Third-party calendar subscriptions may offer a solution for those who want automated reminders for cultural events.
Final Thoughts
While Google cites practicality as the reason for removing these observances, the decision has sparked debate over cultural representation in technology. The controversy raises important questions:
- Should major tech companies take an active role in promoting cultural awareness?
- Is there a better way to balance inclusivity with system efficiency?
For now, users who wish to keep track of heritage months and observances must take matters into their own hands—by manually adding these events or subscribing to specialized calendars.
