In a surprising move, Google has opted to remove the marking of significant cultural history months, such as Black History Month and Women’s History Month, from its online and mobile calendars for the year 2025. Previously, these important dates were highlighted, serving as a reminder of the contributions and struggles of marginalized communities. The Verge reported this development after users expressed their concerns regarding these omissions, shedding light on a broader trend of change within the tech giant.
A Google representative stated that the decision to cut back on highlighted events was made in the middle of last year, a time when the company was reassessing its approach to cultural inclusivity in its digital services. This strategy began several years prior, when Google’s calendar team aimed to create a comprehensive list of cultural moments from various countries. However, the spokesperson acknowledged that this method proved to be unsustainable, as many events and countries were left overlooked. This reasoning reflects a fundamental challenge that many organizations face: effectively managing and representing diversity in an increasingly globalized world.
The changes to Google Calendar emerge against a backdrop of evolving political contexts in the United States. Following the election of President Donald Trump, many tech companies, including Google, have shifted their approaches to workplace diversity initiatives. Google’s decision to eliminate diversity hiring goals and its recent acts of renaming geographical features resonate with this shift, suggesting a strategic departure from aggressive cultural representation in favor of streamlined and standardized practices.
While such approaches may allow for operational efficiency, they raise questions about the potential implications for cultural visibility and the messages these companies convey about their values. The austere approach to cultural recognition by tech giants could lead to feelings of disenfranchisement among user bases that value representation.
In addition to the month-long cultural celebrations, Google Calendar has eliminated other notable observances, including Indigenous Peoples Month and the commencement of LGBTQ+ Pride Month. By reverting to a more traditional listing of public holidays and national observances, Google risks alienating users who benefit from recognition and acknowledgment of diverse cultural legacies. Users are now encouraged to manually input these pivotal dates themselves, which places the onus on individuals rather than the platform to cultivate a culturally inclusive environment.
The response from users, many of whom feel a sense of loss over the erasure of these historically significant months from their digital planners, is indicative of the need for ongoing dialogue between large tech companies and the communities they serve. While Google has made provisions for users to add personal events, the absence of these reminders points to larger systemic oversights in the recognition of cultural heritage.
While Google’s adjustments to its calendar features may be framed as a strategic pivot towards efficiency, they also highlight the delicate balance tech companies must navigate between operational practicality and the cultural sensitivity that their platforms must embody. As global interactions become increasingly intricate, the need for a thoughtful approach to representation can no longer be underestimated.