Intrusive Interstitial

Interstitials may be used for promotions, signups, app-install prompts or legally required notices. They become intrusive when they cover substantial content, are difficult to dismiss, appear unexpectedly or repeatedly interrupt reading. On small screens an overlay that seems modest on desktop may hide nearly everything. The issue is not that every dialog is prohibited; it is whether visitors can reach the promised content without unreasonable disruption.

Google Search Central advises making dialogs and interstitials unobtrusive because they can limit both user access and search-engine understanding. A narrow announcement banner or a reasonably implemented consent interface may be more appropriate than a full-screen marketing takeover. Required notices can have different constraints, but should still be designed for accessibility, clear controls and the smallest practical interruption.

Review mobile behavior before deployment. Check keyboard focus, screen-reader labels, closing controls and whether content remains available after dismissal. Do not claim that a popup automatically triggers a fixed Google ranking penalty or that all legal notices are exempt from usability obligations. The term describes obstructive interaction design, not a specific CSS component or one guaranteed SEO outcome.