Google Calendar’s Major Update Sparks Controversy
In mid-2024, Google Calendar implemented a significant update that removed several cultural observances from its default settings. Events such as Pride Month, Black History Month, Indigenous Peoples Month, Jewish Heritage Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and Hispanic Heritage Month were no longer automatically displayed, triggering a strong backlash from users and advocacy groups.
Why Did Google Remove Cultural Observances from Calendar?
A Google spokesperson addressed the issue, explaining that managing hundreds of cultural and heritage events across different regions was not scalable or sustainable. As a result, the company decided to limit default calendar events to public holidays and national observances, relying on data sourced from TimeandDate.com.
“Maintaining a vast number of cultural events manually was not scalable, so we reverted to displaying only public holidays sourced from a reliable global database.” – Google Representative
While this change was meant to streamline user experience and ensure consistency across regions, many users felt excluded by the decision.
User Reactions: Frustration Over Visibility & Inclusion
The update immediately sparked discussions about digital platforms’ role in promoting diversity and inclusion. Many users took to social media to express their disappointment, arguing that the removal of these observances reduces visibility for historically marginalized communities.
Common Concerns from Users:
✅ Lack of Representation – Users feel that eliminating these events erases important cultural recognition.
✅ Missed Opportunities for Awareness – Many relied on Google Calendar reminders to stay informed about heritage months and significant days.
✅ Impact on Diversity Efforts – At a time when diversity and inclusion are being challenged, this move feels like a step backward.
Critics argue that while users can manually add cultural events, the extra effort discourages visibility compared to auto-included public holidays.
Google’s Response: You Can Still Add Cultural Events Manually
In response to the backlash, Google clarified that users can still customize their calendars by manually adding observances that hold personal significance.
This approach puts the responsibility on users to curate their calendar experience rather than relying on Google to pre-set cultural observances.
How to Add Cultural Events Back to Google Calendar:
- Go to Google Calendar (calendar.google.com).
- Click on “+ Add calendar” in the left panel.
- Browse public calendars or manually add events you want to track.
- Subscribe to third-party cultural calendars to stay updated.
This customization option ensures that individuals can still celebrate and acknowledge significant dates, but it raises the question of whether Google should take a more proactive approach to inclusivity.
The Bigger Picture: Tech Platforms & Cultural Recognition
Google Calendar’s decision highlights a broader challenge faced by tech platforms – how to balance scalability with inclusivity. While it may not be feasible to track hundreds of cultural observances globally, users expect major digital services to recognize diverse communities without requiring manual intervention.
Many industry experts suggest that a compromise solution could be:
✅ Offering opt-in cultural observances users can enable with a single click.
✅ Partnering with diversity organizations to ensure visibility for key events.
✅ Conducting user surveys before making changes that affect representation.
Final Thoughts: What This Means for Google Users
As this controversy unfolds, Google’s role in shaping digital inclusivity remains a key topic of discussion. While users have the flexibility to personalize their calendars, the removal of cultural observances from default settings raises concerns about tech companies’ responsibility in recognizing diverse histories and identities.
👉 What do you think? Should Google reinstate cultural observances in Calendar by default? Let us know in the comments!
