Verified Confidence: high
Primary source found; it says the same thing, the scope matches, and it is reasonably current.
Safe rephrasing
Google introduced HTTPS as a ranking signal in 2014 but called it very lightweight, affecting fewer than 1% of queries and weighing less than content quality.
What the source says
For now it's only a very lightweight signal—affecting fewer than 1% of global queries, and carrying less weight than other signals such as high-quality content
Google Search Central — HTTPS as a ranking signal (Aug. 2014)
- Commonly cited as
- "HTTPS gives a big ranking boost"
- True origin
- Google Search Central — HTTPS as a ranking signal (Aug. 2014)
- Type
- Reference fact: A frequently needed number or rule taken directly from a primary source (e.g. Pew, Census, IAB/PwC, FTC), with its as-of date.
- Year
- 2014
- Data as of
- Google announcement, Aug. 2014
- Last checked
- Method & sample
- Official Google announcement. HTTPS is now part of Google's page experience signals.
- Drift between quote and source
- Google said it might strengthen the signal later; it remains minor compared with content relevance
- Interest
- Google describing its own ranking systems.