{
  "kind": "tracker",
  "studySlug": "citation-decay",
  "slug": "citation-persistence-tracker",
  "title": "Citation persistence benchmark",
  "description": "Research tracker page for The Half-Life of AI Citations study, focusing on the Citation persistence benchmark.",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-03-30",
  "lastTested": "2026-03-30",
  "sourceStudyUrl": "/trakkr-research/citation-decay",
  "sourceStudyTitle": "The Half-Life of AI Citations",
  "claimIds": [
    "citation-decay:one-and-done",
    "citation-decay:median-life",
    "citation-decay:mean-life",
    "citation-decay:brand-half-life",
    "citation-decay:still-active"
  ],
  "relatedSlugs": [
    "answer:how-long-do-ai-citations-last",
    "answer:what-does-a-thirty-one-day-brand-half-life-actually-mean",
    "fact:nearly-three-quarters-of-citations-appear-once-and-vanish"
  ],
  "methodologySummary": "Built from 857,138 reports, 108,650 citations, 10,991 brands, and 8 tracked models across a 10-month observation window.",
  "limitations": [
    "Decay describes observed persistence, not the full causal mechanism behind why a citation disappears.",
    "Brand- and domain-level averages can hide very different retention patterns by query class or model.",
    "Some of the stickiest or most volatile domains come from niche query pockets and should be read as examples, not universal leaders."
  ],
  "keywords": [
    "citation decay",
    "AI half life",
    "AI citation persistence",
    "AI visibility churn"
  ],
  "schemaHints": {
    "pageType": "WebPage",
    "includeDataset": true,
    "includeItemList": true,
    "itemListName": "Citation persistence benchmark"
  },
  "summary": "The benchmark pattern reveals a stark contrast between individual URL persistence and overall brand visibility. While 72.8 percent of citations are one-and-done with a median lifespan of 0 days, brand presence decays at a slower rate with a half-life of 31 days. This indicates that while specific URLs are highly perishable, general brand awareness maintains a longer, albeit still temporary, footprint.",
  "keyFacts": [
    {
      "label": "One-and-done citations",
      "value": "72.8%",
      "detail": "Citations that appear once and vanish.",
      "claimId": "citation-decay:one-and-done"
    },
    {
      "label": "Median citation lifespan",
      "value": "0 days",
      "detail": "Most citations disappear immediately.",
      "claimId": "citation-decay:median-life"
    },
    {
      "label": "Mean citation lifespan",
      "value": "6.8 days",
      "detail": "Average URL lifespan across the sample.",
      "claimId": "citation-decay:mean-life"
    },
    {
      "label": "Brand half-life",
      "value": "31 days",
      "detail": "Average time for brand presence to halve from peak.",
      "claimId": "citation-decay:brand-half-life"
    }
  ],
  "benchmarkRows": [
    {
      "label": "One-and-done citations",
      "value": "72.8%",
      "note": "Citations that appear once and vanish."
    },
    {
      "label": "Median citation lifespan",
      "value": "0 days",
      "note": "Most citations disappear immediately."
    },
    {
      "label": "Mean citation lifespan",
      "value": "6.8 days",
      "note": "Average URL lifespan across the sample."
    },
    {
      "label": "Brand half-life",
      "value": "31 days",
      "note": "Average time for brand presence to halve from peak."
    },
    {
      "label": "Still active citations",
      "value": "6.8%",
      "note": "Small share of URLs still active at the end of the window."
    }
  ],
  "rankedItems": [
    {
      "name": "One-and-done citations",
      "value": "72.8%",
      "detail": "The majority of URLs never return after their first appearance."
    },
    {
      "name": "Median URL lifespan",
      "value": "0 days",
      "detail": "The typical citation disappears immediately."
    },
    {
      "name": "Average URL lifespan",
      "value": "6.8 days",
      "detail": "Even the mean persistence is short."
    },
    {
      "name": "Brand half-life",
      "value": "31 days",
      "detail": "Brand presence decays more slowly than individual URLs."
    },
    {
      "name": "Still-active citations",
      "value": "6.8%",
      "detail": "Only a small minority persist to the end of the window."
    }
  ],
  "changes": [
    {
      "title": "High Rate of One-and-Done Citations",
      "detail": "The benchmark recorded that 72.8 percent of citations appear once and vanish, establishing that the majority of URLs never return after their first appearance."
    },
    {
      "title": "Citation Lifespan Metrics",
      "detail": "The median citation lifespan is 0 days, meaning most citations disappear immediately. The mean citation lifespan is slightly longer at 6.8 days, though only 6.8 percent of citations remain active at the end of the observation window."
    },
    {
      "title": "Brand Presence Decay",
      "detail": "Brand half-life is measured at 31 days, demonstrating that brand presence decays more slowly than individual URLs but still requires active monitoring."
    }
  ]
}