Reading the anomaly log: what counts as an algorithm shift
The 20% threshold, the 24h baseline, and what each entry means in practice.
Once a week, someone emails us asking why their rank dropped. About half the time, the answer is: it didn’t, the algorithm shifted underneath them.
We log every algorithm shift we detect. Here’s how to read what each entry means.
The threshold
When more than 20% of the apps we track move at least three positions on the same day, we flag it. Below that, we treat the noise as normal churn.
Severity
- Major, over 25% moved, multiple categories affected.
- Minor, 15–25% moved, single category or signal cluster.
- Info, under threshold; recorded for the baseline.
If your rank moved on a flagged day, the move is more likely to be the algorithm than your last copy edit. Wait a week before reacting.
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