Digital Decay: 38% of Online Content from 2013 Disappeared
Discover the findings of a Pew Research Center study uncovering the alarming trend of digital decay. 38% of webpages, government links, and tweets have vanished within a few years, highlighting the fragility of online content preservation.
A recent study by Pew Research Center shows that online information doesn't last long. According to the study, 38% of webpages created in 2013 are no longer available ten years later. The study, which was done in October, looked at broken links on government and news websites, as well as in the "References" section of Wikipedia pages.
The findings reveal that:
23% of news webpages and 21% of government webpages contain at least one broken link
City government websites often have a lot of broken links, which can be a problem for visitors trying to access information.
A study found that over half of the pages on Wikipedia have links in their reference sections that lead to pages that no longer exist.
Social Media Content Disappearance
Pew Research conducted a study to examine how digital decay affects social media. They gathered a sample of tweets on X and observed them for a period of three months.
The study found that almost 20% of tweets are no longer visible on the site a few months after they were posted. In 60% of these cases, the original account that posted the tweet had either been made private, suspended, or deleted.
In the remaining 40%, the account holder deleted the tweet, but the account still existed.
Some tweets are more likely to disappear than others. For example, over 40% of tweets in Turkish or Arabic are no longer visible within three months of being posted.
Additionally, tweets from accounts with default profile settings are particularly susceptible to vanishing from public view.
Defining “Inaccessible” Links & Webpages
For this report, Pew Research Center specifically looked at pages that are no longer available to define inaccessibility. Other factors like altered content or challenges for visually impaired users were not included in the study.
Why SEJ Cares
The research took a cautious method, considering pages inaccessible if they showed one of nine error codes. These codes suggest that the page or its server may no longer be available or functioning properly.
Digital decay is a significant issue that raises concerns about how online content can be preserved and accessed by future generations.
A study conducted by the Pew Research Center has revealed the widespread nature of this problem, impacting a range of online platforms such as government websites, news sites, and social media platforms.
The prevalence of link rot and vanishing webpages can impact those who depend on the internet for accurate information. This presents difficulties when referencing online sources since the original material may not be available in the future.
What This Means For SEO Professionals
This study underscores the need to regularly audit and update old content, as well as consistently monitor broken links and resolve them promptly.
SEO experts should also take into account the effects of digital decay on backlink profiles. When external links leading to a website are no longer reachable, it can impact the site's link equity and authority as perceived by search engines.
Monitoring and diversifying backlink sources is important to prevent losing important links to digital decay.
It is also important to focus SEO efforts on directing users towards more stable channels like websites and email lists, as shown by the study's findings on social media content.
Featured Image: apghedia/Shutterstock
Editor's P/S:
The Pew Research Center study on digital decay highlights the alarming rate at which online information vanishes over time. This phenomenon, known as "link rot," poses significant challenges to preserving and accessing knowledge in the digital age. The study's findings reveal that a substantial number of webpages, government websites, news articles, and social media posts become inaccessible within a relatively short period, raising concerns about the reliability and longevity of online content.
Addressing digital decay requires proactive measures from content creators, website owners, and search engine professionals. Regular content audits, link monitoring, and backlink diversification are essential to prevent information loss and ensure the continued visibility and accessibility of valuable online resources. By taking these steps, we can help mitigate the effects of digital decay and preserve the integrity of the internet as a repository of knowledge and information.
