What changed
Tracking how ChatGPT and Gemini change the sources they use to recommend local businesses.
I got this one wrong in August. I thought Reddit’s disappearance was specific to ChatGPT. September’s Gemini data changed my mind.
Gemini dropped Reddit too
When ChatGPT dropped Reddit in August, Gemini looked normal in my spot check. A month later, the full test told a different story: Reddit’s share of Gemini citations fell from 13.7% to 1.7%.
This was not a small wobble. The decline showed up across industries and metros, and directories absorbed much of the share.
How the finding developed
Baseline established
Gemini cited Reddit in 13.7% of local-business citations.
ChatGPT drops Reddit
A 40-query Gemini spot check appeared normal, suggesting an engine-specific change.
The larger test reverses the call
Gemini’s Reddit share reached 1.7%. The pattern was no longer isolated to ChatGPT.
What moved
The important changes are summarized above. The complete table stays available for readers who want the statistical detail.
View all statistically significant changes
| Metric | Previous | Current | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini: Reddit citation share | 13.7% | 1.7% | −12.0 pts |
| Gemini: directory citation share | 10.4% | 19.1% | +8.7 pts |
| Gemini: sources per query | 9.7 | 6.8 | −2.9 |
| Gemini: citation repeatability | .177 | .383 | +.206 |
Note: Replace the sample rows above with the complete results from your current table. The disclosure works without JavaScript.
Keep directories in the mix
Do not rebuild a strategy around one month of movement. But if your business has ignored the major directories Gemini now cites more often, this is a good reason to clean them up and watch the next wave.
