WebMEM™

The Protocol for Structuring, Delivering, and Conditioning Trust-Scored AI Memory on the Open Web

Co-Citation Density

Co-Citation Density is the frequency and proximity with which your authoritative content is cited alongside other trusted sources in AI-generated outputs, retrieval indexes, and semantic graphs. It measures how tightly your Memory Objects and Trust Fragments are positioned with peer high-authority entities, influencing both Trust Scoring and Semantic Proximity.

Unlike raw citation counts, Co-Citation Density accounts for the semantic and contextual strength of citations—valuing instances where your content appears in high-trust, thematically aligned company over isolated or low-quality references.

🧠 Full Definition

Co-Citation Density is determined by:

  • Tracking AI-generated outputs and indexing graphs for adjacent citations
  • Calculating proximity weighting—shorter text or graph distance increases impact
  • Assessing authority scores of co-cited entities and domains
  • Identifying repeated patterns of association across multiple Memory Surfaces and Trust Surfaces
  • Factoring in diversity of co-citation partners to avoid dependency on a single source

High Co-Citation Density builds durable trust associations that reinforce your retrieval preference in AI systems.

📌 Key Characteristics of Co-Citation Density

  • Measured as occurrences per 1,000 retrieval events or equivalent window
  • Focuses on quality and context of co-citations, not just quantity
  • Acts as a trust multiplier when paired with high-authority peers
  • Informs Conditioning Strategies for entity alignment

💡 Why It Matters

In AI retrieval, trust is often inferred through association. Being repeatedly cited alongside trusted entities strengthens your position as an authoritative source, improving both retrieval share and semantic persistence over time.

🌐 WebMEM Perspective

In WebMEM, Co-Citation Density is a monitored KPI inside the Semantic Visibility Console. It is used to identify opportunities for strategic placement of Trust Fragments on surfaces that naturally align with high-authority peers, amplifying cross-entity trust signals.

🗣️ Example Use

“Our Co-Citation Density with CMS.gov increased by 27% after publishing our glossary terms to two academic health repositories.”

🔗 Related Terms