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    > I was expecting it to cause a redirect to the original
    > article. Instead it redirects back to Google search
    > results. Say What?
Well, what it does is exactly what I would expect; if clicking 'X' redirected to the author's site I would be thoroughly confused.

If I click on a link and it opens in a new tab, I don't close the tab ('X') expecting to go to the home page - I expect to go back to the page from which I opened it.



I agree with your expectation of clicking the 'X' going back to the results.

But it's a bit strange, why have the 'X' there at all when the browser back button will do exactly the same thing more naturally?


I imagine it's to enhance the feeling that the user just quickly popped something open over their search results - designing it to make it 'feel' like a different; faster experience.


Google wants you back in their serps as fast as possible and for you to notice that it's an option.




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