Algorithm updates
Changes to ranking or retrieval that move Google and, with a lag, what models cite.
Core updates still wreck thin sites. AI retrieval changes are quieter: a bot allowed, a Reddit license, a cache.
Don’t blame an “AI update” until you check crawler logs and your prompt diffs.
Examples
- Google core update drops you. ChatGPT memory still loves you for months. Two clocks.
Related terms
Citation decay is when AI answers stop using your page: fresher sources, a retrieval change, or your facts went stale.
How recently a page was substantively updated. Retrievers like dates. Fake dates are a fast way to burn trust.
Google’s language for pages made for humans. It also describes what is worth citing: experience, specifics, no empty calories.
FAQ
Should I change everything after an update? +
Read the diff in queries and citations first. Panic rewrites create more decay.
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