You're absolutely right to question the rigid adherence to Yoast's SEO title length guidelines, especially in today's evolving search environment. While Yoast is a fantastic tool for optimizing content, its traffic light system is ultimately just a recommendation — not a hard-and-fast rule. Google has become much more sophisticated and often rewrites titles in search results to better match user intent and context, even if your original title exceeds traditional character limits.

The examples you pointed out from your Google News feed reflect a growing trend: longer, more descriptive titles that capture attention and convey value clearly. These titles are often better for users because they provide more information up front, increasing click-through rates.

In terms of SEO best practices today — particularly with Google's emphasis on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) — user experience and content quality are far more important than sticking strictly to a title character count. If a longer title improves clarity and better represents the article, go for it.

So yes, it's okay to move beyond Yoast's color-coded system and prioritize how your content reads and resonates with real people. Just make sure your titles are still structured logically and include your main keyword early when possible.