[elena@aseachange.com](https://activitypub.space/user/elena%40aseachange.com) could it be that you're editing an article that had never been federated before (aka predates the AP plugin)?
In that case the published update might be the first time a Mastodon instance sees it, and it might promote it to the top of the feed even if it's many years old?
[pfefferle@mastodon.social](https://activitypub.space/user/pfefferle%40mastodon.social) [johnonolan@mastodon.xyz](https://activitypub.space/user/johnonolan%40mastodon.xyz) [heathenstorm@mastodon.social](https://activitypub.space/user/heathenstorm%40mastodon.social)