Here are the primary changes introduced in this core update:

1. Helpful Content Remains a Priority

Google reaffirmed its commitment to “people-first content” through this update. This means:

• Content should be created for human readers, not for manipulation of search engines.
• Original insights, research, and depth are rewarded.
• Over-optimized or AI-generated content that lacks value may see ranking drops.

This aligns with Google’s own documentation encouraging creators to write with users in mind.

2. Greater Emphasis on E-E-A-T

Google continues to prioritize Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness:

• Pages authored by real experts or with clear credentials performed better.
• Sites lacking transparency or trust signals saw a decline.
• Medical, financial, and legal content (YMYL) were most affected by E-E-A-T enhancements.

3. Improved Assessment of Content Depth and Relevance

Pages that merely aggregated or lightly rewrote existing information were hit hardest. Google rewarded:

• In-depth, topic-specific pages.
• Long-form content with proper structure and references.
• Multimedia elements (images, videos) that added value to the written word.

4. Penalization of Outdated or Stale Content

Google has ramped up its scrutiny of outdated content:

• Old posts with little current relevance were deprioritized.
• Sites that regularly update content to maintain freshness were rewarded.

According to ThatWare, freshness is now more critical than ever for ranking well.