What if the internet suddenly forgot all about us? The curious case of our vanishing digital footprint
The Fragility of Digital Content
We live in an era where everything seems to be recorded, stored, and preserved forever on the web. However, the reality is quite different: thousands of websites disappear every day without a trace. This silent phenomenon threatens to erase an essential part of our collective history. Is there anything we can do about it?
The Unforeseen Blackout
Millennia ago, a complaint on a clay tablet survived the test of time. Today, a 2009 post may have disappeared irretrievably. The difference lies in the fragility of the digital environment. Unlike ancient tablets, web pages depend on constantly changing technologies, servers, and domains. When one of these elements fails, the content simply disappears.
This process is known as link rot, or “rotten links.” A recent study reveals that 30% of links shared over a decade ago no longer work. Thousands of conversations, texts, and resources silently vanish each year.
Building a Lasting Digital Memory
Faced with this reality, initiatives like the national digital archives attempt to save part of this heritage. But preserving today’s web is more difficult than ever: content is dynamic, platforms impose restrictions, and privacy raises ethical dilemmas.
Despite all this, we can still take action. Anyone can contribute by using tools such as “Save Page Now” or Archive.today to save copies of relevant pages. Not everything needs to be preserved, but what is part of our culture and collective identity should be.
Because, while the internet changes constantly, we can also capture essential fragments that tell who we were. Our memes, recipes, and forums may not last 4,000 years… but perhaps long enough for someone to remember them.
