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Content freshness is how recently a web page’s content was published or last updated. AI platforms, particularly those using retrieval-augmented generation, favor recently updated content over stale pages. A page last updated in 2024 will typically be cited less than a similar page updated in the current month, all else being equal.

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Why it matters

Perplexity has been observed to weight content under one year old more heavily in its source selection. Stale pages with last-updated dates from 2-3 years ago are systematically cited less than recently-updated pages on the same topic. For brands maintaining content that covers evolving topics — product features, pricing, category comparisons — regular content refreshes directly improve AI visibility.

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How Cited uses it

Content freshness is tracked as a factor in citation analysis and mention rate diagnostics. When a brand’s mention rate drops without an obvious cause, stale content is one of the first hypotheses to investigate. The recommended refresh cadence depends on category: fast-changing categories (tech, fintech) benefit from monthly updates, while stable categories (established consumer goods) may sustain visibility with quarterly refreshes.