FreshnessTwiddler / RealTimeBoost
For certain queries Google expects fresh content — the concept is called 'Query Deserves Freshness' (QDF).
01What it measures
For certain queries Google expects fresh content — the concept is called 'Query Deserves Freshness' (QDF). FreshnessTwiddler gives current pages a temporary ranking boost. RealTimeBoost is the sharper variant for real-time events like severe weather or breaking news. Being current means ranking higher — but only if the query actually demands freshness.
02Derived from
A combination of the document's freshness state (when was it last updated?) and the query's freshness demand (are many people currently searching with a time reference for this topic?).
03How it's measured
FreshnessTwiddler = a freshness-dependent re-ranking boost (Query Deserves Freshness); RealTimeBoost = a sharper, short-lived boost for real-time/event spikes. [B fields, O/C QDF]
04Why it counts here
Trust is indirect — an outdated severe weather warning is a breach of trust: someone relies on wrong information. Otherwise this system is E-E-A-T-neutral: freshness is not a dimension of expertise or authority.
05What to do about it
Where timeliness matters — warnings, live data, fast-changing situations — freshness is central. But the freshness boost only works if pages are crawled and indexed in time (see Crawl-Budget, System 21). Editorial processes for fast updates must be synchronized with the technical infrastructure.