Google’s John Mueller was asked if Google counts the first link on a page at the same level as the second link on a page. This is a topic that goes back over ten years in the SEO debate space. In any event, John ignored that question and then went on to explain it is more about primary vs boilerplate content.

The question came up in a Reddit thread:

John Mueller responded:

Now on that topic, we had a different Googler tell us that links in boilerplate content is weighted less than links in primary content. John also touched on this topic previously before saying something simialr.

But again, this first link vs second link topic really brought me back about a dozen years in SEO.

Forum discussion at Reddit.