Systems and methods for updating links between keywords associated with a trending topic

A system for updating associations between words in a search environment, the system comprising control circuitry configured to:

• identify a plurality of communications over a network connection during a first period of time, wherein the plurality of communications are associated with a topic;
• determine whether a rate at which the communications within the plurality of communications are created during the first period exceeds a predetermined rate;
• in response to determining that the rate at which the communications within the plurality of communications are created exceeds the predetermined rate, increase a stored strength of association between a first keyword and a second keyword, wherein the first keyword and the second keyword are associated with the topic;
• receive, subsequent to the first period of time, a first search query that comprises the first keyword;
• and
• in response to receiving the first search query that comprises the first keyword:
• determine whether the stored strength of association between the first keyword and the second keyword exceeds a predetermined minimum strength;
• and
• in response to determining that the stored strength of association exceeds the predetermined minimum strength, identify search results matching the first keyword and the second keyword;
• determine that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since increasing the stored strength of association between the first keyword and the second keyword;
• in response to determining that the predetermined amount of time has elapsed since increasing the strength of association, decrease the stored strength of association between the first keyword and the second keyword;
• receive, after the predetermined time has elapsed, a second search query that comprises the first keyword;
• and
• in response to receiving the second search query that comprises the first keyword:
• determine whether the stored strength of association exceeds the predetermined minimum strength;
• and
• in response to determining that the stored strength of association does not exceed the predetermined minimum strength, search for results matching the first keyword without searching for results matching the second keyword.