New data from Spotlight reveals a significant shift in how leading AI models, particularly ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overview, are sourcing information from Reddit. Our analysis of over 3 million citations between August 5 and October 29, 2025, shows a dramatic decline in Reddit’s presence in AI-generated responses, with profound implications for anyone focused on Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) or AI Engine Optimization (AEO).

The Numbers Don’t Lie

After analyzing daily citation patterns across eight major AI models, we uncovered some startling trends:

ChatGPT’s 95% Drop

ChatGPT’s relationship with Reddit underwent a dramatic transformation:

- Early August 2025: Reddit citations peaked at 14.29% of all cited sources

- Mid-September 2025: Dropped to 0.21%—essentially near-zero

- By October 2025: Remained consistently below 1%

This represents a 95% decline in just one month, transforming Reddit from a significant source to virtually absent in ChatGPT’s citations.

AI Overview Follows the Same Pattern

Google’s AI Overview, another major player, mirrored this trend:

- Early August: Started around 4.5% Reddit citation share

- Mid-September: Dropped below 1% (synchronized with ChatGPT’s decline)

- October: Remained consistently below 1%, often near zero

Perplexity Stands Out

In contrast to ChatGPT and AI Overview, Perplexity maintained consistent Reddit citations throughout the entire period:

- August-September: Consistently cited Reddit at 3-8% of sources

- October: Maintained 2-5% citation share

- Peak performance: Reached 8.89% on September 13th

Perplexity became the leading AI model in terms of Reddit sourcing after ChatGPT’s decline, suggesting different underlying search or data access strategies.

Other Models: Consistently Low

Most other major AI models showed minimal Reddit engagement throughout:

- Gemini: Rarely exceeded 1%, mostly stayed below 0.5%

- Claude: Virtually no Reddit citations detected

- Copilot: Minimal to zero Reddit presence

- Grok: Flat line near 0% throughout the period

- AI Mode: Fluctuated between 0-2%, generally very low

What Caused This Change?

The synchronized nature of the decline across multiple models points to a broader systemic change rather than individual algorithm updates. Several factors likely contributed:

1. SERP Visibility Changes

Since AI models primarily source fresh data from Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs), a reduction in Reddit’s visibility within Google search results would directly impact AI citations. Potential causes:

- Google algorithm updates: Google may have adjusted how Reddit content ranks in search results

- Reddit’s content structure changes: Changes to how Reddit presents content could affect crawlability

- Competition shifts: Other platforms may have gained prominence in search results

2. API and Data Access Changes

Reddit has made significant changes to its API structure and pricing:

- API access restrictions: Changes to how external services access Reddit data

- Rate limiting: Stricter limits could impact search engine crawling

- Data licensing: New policies might affect how search engines index Reddit content

3. AI Model Training Updates

While less likely to be synchronized across models, internal updates could play a role:

- Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) updates: Changes to how models fetch real-time information

- Source prioritization: Models may have adjusted internal weighting of different content sources

- Quality filters: New filters might deprioritize forum-based content

Critical Implications for Your AI Visibility Strategy

For GEO/AEO Practitioners

If your Generative Engine Optimization or AI Engine Optimization strategy relies on Reddit, this data is critical news:

⚠️ The Risk

Relying solely on Reddit for AI visibility is now a high-risk strategy. Models that previously cited Reddit heavily have essentially stopped, which means:

- Content posted on Reddit is less likely to appear in ChatGPT responses

- Reddit-focused SEO tactics may no longer drive AI visibility

- Investment in Reddit communities may show reduced ROI for AI citations

✅ The Opportunity

Perplexity users still get value from Reddit—if Perplexity is part of your target model mix, Reddit content may still drive visibility there. However, this model-specific approach requires careful consideration.

Strategic Recommendations

1. Diversify Your Content Sources

- Don’t put all your visibility eggs in one basket

- Explore other high-authority platforms where your audience engages

- Build presence across multiple channels (forums, Q&A sites, niche communities)

2. Focus on First-Party Content

- Prioritize content on your own website, blog, and official channels

- You have direct control over this content and its discoverability

- Optimize your own properties for AI model crawling and citation

3. Monitor Continuously

- AI citation patterns are dynamic—they change fast

- Track which sources AI models cite for your industry and keywords

- Use tools like Spotlight to monitor these shifts in real-time

4. Understand Model-Specific Behaviors

- Different AI models prioritize different sources

- Tailor strategies to your target model mix

- What works for Perplexity may not work for ChatGPT

5. Build Authority, Not Just Links

- Focus on creating authoritative, comprehensive content

- Earn citations through quality, not gaming

- Build relationships with platforms that consistently appear in AI responses

The Bigger Picture

This data reveals something important about the AI content landscape: it’s dynamic and unpredictable.

What was true in August 2025 isn’t true in September. Strategies that work today may fail tomorrow. The only constant is change.

This is why continuous monitoring and agile strategy adjustment are essential for anyone serious about AI visibility.

What We’re Watching

- Will Reddit citations return to ChatGPT? (Unlikely in the near term based on current trends)

- How will other models adapt? (Perplexity shows a different path)

- What new platforms will emerge as citation sources? (Opportunities may arise)

- How will GEO/AEO strategies evolve? (The industry is responding)

Conclusion

The dramatic decline in Reddit citations by ChatGPT and AI Overview serves as a powerful reminder: strategies for AI visibility must be agile and data-driven.

Don’t build your entire strategy on a single platform. Don’t assume today’s citation patterns will last. And most importantly—stay informed about these shifts, because they can happen overnight.

The AI content landscape is still young, and the rules are being written in real-time. The brands that succeed will be those that monitor, adapt, and diversify.

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About the Data

This analysis is based on Spotlight’s dataset of 3 million+ citations tracked between August 5 and October 29, 2025, across eight major AI models:

- ChatGPT

- Google AI Overview

- Perplexity

- Gemini

- Claude

- Microsoft Copilot

- Grok

- AI Mode

ChatGPT Stopped Citing Reddit in September—What This Means for Your AI Visibility Strategy