Preserving Digital Memory: Fighting Internet Decay Against Powerful Forces
Despite the adage “the internet never forgets,” the digital world is inherently fragile. Studies show that a significant portion of web content disappears over time, with nearly 25% of all web pages from 2013–2023 no longer accessible. Older content is even more vulnerable; over a third of pages from 2013 have vanished entirely. This digital decay is not merely a technical curiosity—it threatens historical record, political accountability, and cultural memory. From government-sanctioned deletions to server shutdowns by private companies, the online ecosystem is constantly at risk of losing information. When digital content vanishes, so does a fragment of our collective … Read more