> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.getcited.in/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Content Freshness

> How recently a page's content was published or updated — a signal that influences AI citation probability.

**Content freshness** is how recently a web page's content was published or last updated. AI platforms, particularly those using [retrieval-augmented generation](/glossary/rag), 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.

## Why it matters

[Perplexity](/concepts/platforms/how-perplexity-ranks-sources) 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.

## How Cited uses it

Content freshness is tracked as a factor in [citation analysis](/concepts/metrics/citation-rate) and [mention rate](/glossary/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.

## Related concepts

* [Refresh cadence](/methodology/refresh-cadence) — how often Cited's own pipeline collects data
* [What sources LLMs cite](/concepts/foundations/ai-citation-sources) — freshness as a citation factor
* [How Perplexity ranks sources](/concepts/platforms/how-perplexity-ranks-sources) — the most freshness-sensitive platform