Deep Dive: ChatGPT Increasingly Uses 'site:' Operator to Filter Spam in Search
lilyraynyc · x · 2026-08-18
SEO expert Lily Ray analyzes the evolution of ChatGPT's search behavior, specifically changes in its 'fan-out query' strategy.
Key Findings:
- ChatGPT is increasingly using the site: operator in its search queries.
- This approach scopes searches to sites it already trusts, helping to filter out spam and low-quality content.
- The author suggests this is OpenAI's method to improve retrieval quality and combat SEO spam, similar to Google's E-E-A-T strategy.
The article discusses the SEO implications of this behavior, noting it fundamentally alters the source basis for ChatGPT's answers.
Related event: ChatGPT Ramps Up Searches and site: Filters to Curb Spam(3 posts)→
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