Is it unfair though?

While there’s definitely optimization for search, it doesn’t appear to be purely about that. A lot of the content, particularly on Forbes Advisor and Forbes Health, seems user-driven and genuinely helpful. If you spend some time exploring those areas, you’ll notice well-researched, in-depth guides aimed at offering practical advice.

Just some quick research and Google searching:

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/savings/financial-eme....

https://www.forbes.com/health/nutrition/diet/healthy-life-ex....

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/digital-wallets-payme...

Sure, and Google and FB have killed businesses before by changing algorithms. But what is fair prioritization? Non-trivial Q.

And then get negative press from Forbes for the next few years! Is that something useful for Google? No, better let them keep part of the money.

> negative press from Forbes for the next few years

Who the fuck reads Forbes anymore? You seen the garbage they're shilling on their website these days?

This is not just Forbes, most mainstream media sites are using the same affiliate scheme.