Preserving Digital Heritage: The Internet Archive's Role in Combatting Link Rot

This chapter highlights the crucial role of the Internet Archive in safeguarding digital content against link rot and decay. It explores the Archive's tools, such as the Wayback Machine, and stresses the importance of archiving online materials to prevent the loss of cultural heritage.

Transcript

chevron_right

Play full episode

chevron_right

Transcript

Episode notes

Thank you to BRITA for supporting the podcast, helping us keep our deep dives going, and, of course, keeping us hydrated! Check out BRITA here: https://www.brita.com.au/turnonthetaste

In this episode, I explore the evolution of digital decay and the preservation efforts by non-profit organisation The Internet Archive, owner of the Wayback Machine. I look at instances of mass content erasure online— such as Myspace, Vine, and Gawker— before answering the question: Why is it so important that we preserve internet history?

Timestamps:

00:40 Intro

3:44 What is the Internet Archive and why was it created?

8:40 Challenges and threats to the Internet Archive

12:58 Lost social media: Myspace & Vine

16:04 The importance of longevity and information protection

17:31 The Internet Archive as a “check” on media

23:03 Archiving content & misinformation

Find our podcast YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC18HclY7Tt5-1e3Z-MEP7Jg

Subscribe to our weekly Substack: https://centennialworld.substack.com/

Join our Geneva home: https://links.geneva.com/invite/7eb23525-9259-4d59-95e3-b9edd35861a5

Follow Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmeisner_/