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You know that website you always visited in 2013? Unfortunately, it may no longer exist. A recent study of the Pew Research Center revealed that a significant percentage of web pages are no longer accessible today, especially older ones. This trend, known as digital decay (digital decay), highlights the ephemerality of online content and the challenges faced in preserving digital history. With the disappearance of these pages, it becomes clear that the passage of time is having a considerable impact on the availability of online content.
Why are websites disappearing?
One of the most recent research Pew Research Center revealed a growing phenomenon on the internet: digital decay. This term describes the progressive disappearance of web pages over time. According to the study, 38% of web pages from 2013 are no longer accessible, and 25% of all web pages that existed from 2013 to 2023 are no longer available.
Digital decay appears to be more aggressive towards older content — which is understandable, given that only 8% of pages that were available in 2023 can no longer be accessed at the moment. This suggests that over time there is an increasing tendency for web pages to become inaccessible, especially those that have existed for a longer time.
Several reasons could explain why websites are disappearing. One of them is the ephemeral nature of the internet. Many websites are created without a long-term preservation plan, which means that over time they can be abandoned or deleted without leaving a trace. Additionally, changes in technology and design trends can cause older websites to become obsolete and removed to make way for new content and more modern formats.
The same study as the Pew Research Center revealed that 23% of news pages e 21% of government website pages contain at least one broken link. Surprisingly, this trend does not appear to be influenced by the level of traffic to news sites, as both high and low traffic sites are equally likely to contain broken links. Additionally, municipal government web pages were found to be particularly prone to having broken links, highlighting a widespread problem with maintaining and updating links on these platforms.
The research also revealed that 54% of Wikipedia pages contain at least one link in the “References” section that points to a page that no longer exists. This indicates that even a widely used source like Wikipedia is not immune to digital decay and the loss of valuable information over time.
A digital decay has significant consequences for the preservation of digital history and culture. Often, important information and useful resources are lost forever due to lack of care with digital preservation.
TOP pages and services that no longer exist
In 2013, internet users frequented some sites and services that no longer exist today. Orkut was the king of social networks, while the photoblog and its Brazilian “clone”, the Flogon, were the highlights among photo-sharing fans. O Blogspot was the main platform for creating blogs, and the Terra Chat it was the refuge of the melancholy. Remember these and other famous sites more than a decade ago.
Blogspot
O Blogspot, known for its blog creation platform, was one of the pioneers in offering free services to bloggers around the world. In Brazil, the Blogspot was especially popular due to its ease of use and integration with other products in the Google: Activities such as floating on the gmail. It allowed users to create and customize their blogs with ease, sharing text, photos and videos with a global audience.
In 2016 the Google announced that it was migrating blogs from Blogspot to a new domain, maintaining the structure of the Blogger, but changing blog addresses to a new format. This change was made to improve the security and stability of the platform, as well as better integrate it with other products in the Google. Some old blog addresses continued to operate indefinitely, ensuring that content remains accessible even after migration.
club Penguin
O club Penguin was a craze among children and pre-teens in the 2000s, offering a safe and fun virtual environment to play, interact and learn. The site allowed users to create a virtual penguin, decorate their igloo, attend themed parties, and play educational and fun games. In Brazil, the site was particularly popular, with an active community of players who came together to participate in events and competitions.
In 2017 the club Penguin announced that it was ceasing its activities. The main reason was the difficulty in maintaining the player base in an increasingly competitive market, in addition to the need to adapt to changes in user preferences. The website has been replaced by Club Penguin Island, an updated and more interactive version of the game, but many fans mourned the demise of the original site, which left a lasting mark on internet culture.
photoblog
O photoblog was one of the first social media platforms focused on photo sharing. Launched in 2002, the site allowed users to post a single photo per day, accompanied by a brief text. It was extremely popular in Brazil, with millions of users using the platform to share everyday moments, make friends and express themselves artistically. O photoblog pioneered the “photo of the day” concept, encouraging users to post regularly and interact with the community.
The success of photoblog in Brazil also inspired the creation of Flogon, a Brazilian platform that copied the basic idea of Fotolog and adapted it for the Brazilian public, which It was also very popular and contributed to the popularization of photo blogs in the country. However, with the emergence of more advanced social networks and changing user preferences, the photoblog and the Flogon gradually lost their relevance and were closed in 2016.
Grooveshark
O Grooveshark was a music streaming service that allowed users to upload, share and stream music for free. Launched in 2007, the service quickly became popular due to its vast music library and the ability for users to create and share personalized playlists. In Brazil, the Grooveshark It was especially appreciated for offering free and easy access to music, making it a popular alternative to traditional music streaming services.
However, in 2015, the Grooveshark was closed due to legal issues involving copyright. The service was sued by several record labels for copyright infringement, which led to its closure. Despite its legal troubles, the platform has left a lasting legacy as one of the first music streaming platforms and as an innovative alternative for online music lovers.
Orkut
Orkut It was one of the first social networks to gain popularity in Brazil and other countries. Launched in 2004 by Google, Orkut it allowed users to create profiles, connect with friends, join communities, and share photos and videos. In Brazil, the Orkut became extremely popular and was widely used to stay in touch with friends and colleagues, as well as being a platform for sharing interests and hobbies.
In 2014 the Orkut was closed by Google due to the loss of relevance and increasing competition from other social networks, such as Facebook and the Twitter. In 2022, the domain orkut.com was reactivated, displaying a letter written by its founder Orkut Buyukkokten explaining that he would be working on a new project, which so far has not happened.
Despite its end, the Orkut left a lasting legacy on Brazilian internet culture, with many users fondly remembering their experiences on the platform and the friendships they made through it.
Periscope
O Periscope was a live video streaming platform that quickly gained popularity after its launch in 2015. Powered by Twitter, it allowed users to stream live videos to their followers, who could interact in real time through comments and likes. In Brazil, the Periscope it was used to broadcast live events, share personal experiences and interact with diverse audiences.
However, in 2021, the Twitter announced that it was closing the Periscope due to the difficulty in keeping the service active and relevant in an increasingly competitive live streaming market. The closure of Periscope marked the end of an era in live video streaming on social media, leaving many users nostalgic for the platform and its unique features.
RapidShare
O RapidShare It was one of the first cloud file hosting services to gain popularity on the internet. Launched in 2002, allowed users to upload files and share download links with others. In Brazil, the RapidShare It was widely used to share large files such as movies, music, and software.
However, in 2015, the service was shut down due to changes in copyright laws in Europe and difficulty in keeping the service profitable. The closure of RapidShare it marked the end of an era in file sharing on the internet, with many users migrating to other cloud file hosting services.
Terra Chat
O Terra Chat was one of the first and most popular online chat services in Brazil, competing for leadership with UOL chat, which continues to operate. Launched in the late 90s by the portal Terra, the chat service allowed users to connect with others from across the country in themed chat rooms. The service was known for its ease of use and the variety of rooms available, which ranged from serious topics to entertainment and flirting. O Terra Chat It was an important part of Brazilian internet culture for many years, being used by millions of people to make new friends, find romantic partners and discuss different topics.
However, in 2015, the Terra Chat was discontinued by the portal Terra. The reason for the closure was not officially disclosed, but many attribute its decline to the change in user habits, who started using more social networks and instant messaging applications. The end of Terra Chat marked the end of an era in online communication in Brazil, leaving many users nostalgic for hours spent in their favorite chat rooms.
Do I Give You Some Data?
Do I Give You Some Data? was a Brazilian humorous blog with entertainment news, which also had a virtual machine that “gave data” to the user, that is, it presented a random phrase or question in a humorous and relaxed way. The site quickly gained popularity due to its funny and surprising content, becoming a phenomenon on social media and among young Brazilians.
Despite being a phenomenon that shocked the internet, the Do I Give You Some Data? lost its luster and ended up being closed in 2015. The end of Do I Give You Some Data? was lamented by many fans who were amused by the site's random messages, highlighting its impact on Brazilian internet culture as an example of creative and innovative humor.
TodaOferta
TodaOferta was a Brazilian website for buying and selling products launched in 2008 by the group UOL. The site functioned as a platform where users could advertise new and used products in various categories, such as electronics, fashion, home and garden, among others. This was one of the first attempts to create an online market in Brazil and was well received by consumers, especially for offering an alternative to the auction and classifieds sites existing at the time.
However, in 2015, the UOL decided to close the TodaOferta due to changes in business strategy and increased competition in the Brazilian e-commerce market. The closure of TodaOferta marked the end of an era in online buying and selling in Brazil, leaving many users orphaned from a platform that facilitated negotiation between consumers.
wine
wine was a short video sharing platform launched in 2013 by Twitter, allowing users to create videos of up to six seconds that could be shared and viewed by other users. The platform has quickly gained popularity, especially among young people, due to its unique and creative approach to creating and sharing short and funny videos.
However, in 2017, the Twitter announced that it was closing the wine. The reason for the closure has not been officially disclosed, but many attribute its downfall to increasing competition from other video platforms such as Instagram and the Snapchat. The closure of wine made many users nostalgic for the unique and fun videos that the platform provided.
Conclusion
The loss of these popular sites like Orkut, Grooveshark and Vine, highlights the ephemeral and constantly evolving nature of the internet. Digital decay, characterized by the gradual disappearance of online content, is a phenomenon that affects not only social networking sites and video-sharing platforms, but also file hosting services and other types of websites. These sites, which were once extremely popular and influential, have disappeared for a variety of reasons, such as changing user preferences, financial difficulties, or legal issues.
The disappearance of these sites not only affects the collective memory of the internet, but also raises questions about the preservation of digital heritage. Oftentimes, the closure of these sites results in the loss of valuable data and content that is not easily recoverable. This highlights the importance of digital preservation policies and practices to ensure that the legacy of these sites is maintained for future generations. Digital decay is a reminder that despite the apparent permanence of the internet, online content can be as ephemeral as any other form of media, and requires ongoing efforts to ensure its long-term preservation and accessibility.
F.A.Q
O error 404 does not always mean that the requested page no longer exists. It can appear for several reasons. When a server receives a request for a specific page, it checks whether that page exists. If it doesn't find the page, it returns status code 404. Therefore, the error 404 it may appear for other reasons, understand below how it works.
What is Error 404
O error 404 is a common message on the web that indicates that the requested page was not found on the server. This error occurs when the web server cannot find the resource requested by the user. O error 404 is an HTTP status code, part of the standard internet response codes used to indicate the status of a web request. The 404 code specifically means “Not Found,” indicating that the server was successfully contacted but was unable to find the requested resource.
The most common problems that result in error 404 are:
- URL entered by the user is incorrect, simply typing the correct address will eliminate the error;
- Changes to the site structure
- Technical problems on the server
How to find an old website with the Wayback Machine
If you've ever needed to access a website that is no longer available or wanted to see what a website looked like in the past, the Wayback Machine could be the solution. A Wayback Machine is a free service offered by Internet Archive which lets you view archived versions of web pages over time. Here's how to use it to find an old website.
Step 1: Open your preferred browser and go to website Wayback Machine.
Step 2: In the search bar of Wayback Machine, enter the full URL of the website you want to access. For example, if you want to see an old version of Google, type “www.google.com”.
Step 3: After entering the URL, click on the “Browse History” button. A Wayback Machine will display a calendar with all the dates the site was archived.
Step 4: Browse the calendar and select the date you want to view the archived version of the site. Dates with archived versions will be highlighted. Click on the date of your choice.
Step 5: A Wayback Machine will load the archived version of the site on the selected date. You will be able to browse the site almost as if you were visiting the original version, accessing different pages and content available at that time.
As a resource for missing sites, the Wayback Machine is a powerful tool that preserves the history of the web, making it possible to revisit the digital past. Try using it to explore the Internet Archive's incredible collection and find those web pages you thought were lost forever.
See also:
Sources: Mashable, IFLScience e WatchMojo.
reviewed by Glaucon Vital in 20 / 6 / 24.
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