This is some awesome detective work!

I completely agree that Steemit could use some better quality content! It is especially heinous what appears on the trending page, and the fact that those with the power to take away bot power have not done so.

That being said. I don't trust Google. There are a lot of good authors on here that criticize Google and think their SEO strategies have become politicized. I happen to be one of those people. (Not necessarily the good author part, but the thinking that Google politicizes its SEO part :p)

They eliminated their "Do no evil" slogan and have outwardly admitted to working with the US military on less-than-savory technology. I have also noticed that anything that doesn't fit the bill politically is scrubbed from the first few pages of any search on the topic, and it is more than obviously politically charged.

I would not be surprised at all if this update that affected Steemit so adversely was deliberate. The powers that control us don't take too kindly to places where you are uncensored and free to say (pretty much) whatever you'd like! Just some food for thought from your favorite conspiracy theorist! :D