John Mueller from Google explains that search results will display either an article’s publication date or its last modification date, depending on which is more relevant.
This issue was discussed during a recent Google Webmaster Central hangout when a user asked why search results sometimes display a publication date and time instead of the last modification date and time, suggesting it might be more useful to do it the other way around.
Mueller acknowledges that this is a topic of internal debate within the company, and he recognizes valid points on both sides. Google’s search algorithms do not favor one type of date but assess which is more relevant to a specific piece of content.
There are instances where displaying the original publication date makes sense, while at other times, showing the last modification date is more appropriate. For instance, a significant modification might affect the content’s relevance to the user’s needs.
In such cases, Google’s algorithms may opt to show the last modification date over the original publication date.
Mueller elaborates on this topic further in a video, starting at the 11:15 mark.
He emphasizes the ongoing discussions with the dates team, acknowledging strong arguments for both sides. Google’s algorithms remain flexible, sometimes showcasing the original date and other times the last modification date, especially when substantial changes impact user relevance.
