A recent study by the Pew Research Center illuminates the prevalent issue of digital decay: within a few years, 38% of webpages, government links, and tweets vanish into obscurity.

The research unveils that a significant portion of web content from 2013 has become inaccessible, with 38% of webpages disappearing altogether. Broken links plague 23% of news webpages and 21% of government pages, highlighting the fragility of online information sources. Additionally, the study finds that nearly one-in-five tweets lose their visibility mere months after being posted, underscoring the ephemeral nature of social media content.

Pew Research Center’s latest study illuminates the transient nature of online content: after a decade, 38% of webpages from 2013 have vanished into the digital ether.

This analysis, carried out in October, scrutinized broken links on government and news websites and in the “References” section of Wikipedia pages.

The study uncovers the following:

• 23% of news webpages and 21% of government webpages feature at least one broken link.
• Websites belonging to local-level government entities, particularly city governments, are notably susceptible to broken links.
• A striking 54% of Wikipedia pages include at least one link in their “References” section, leading to a non-existent page.

Social Media Faces Content Disappearance: Insights from Pew Research

In an exploration of the vulnerability of social media content, Pew Research conducted a real-time examination of tweets on X, tracking them over three months.

The study revealed a concerning trend: “Nearly one in five tweets vanish from public visibility on the platform within months of posting.”

In 60% of these instances, the original posting account went private, got suspended, or was deleted altogether.

In the remaining 40%, while the tweet was deleted, the account remained active.

Notably, specific types of tweets are more prone to disappearance, with over 40% of tweets in Turkish or Arabic becoming invisible within three months of publication. Moreover, tweets originating from accounts with default profile settings are especially susceptible to slipping out of public view.

Deciphering ‘Inaccessible’ Links & Webpages: Insights from Pew Research

In this report, the Pew Research Center delves into inaccessibility by concentrating on pages that have ceased to exist.

The scope of this research did not encompass alternative definitions of inaccessibility, such as altered content or issues about accessibility for visually impaired users.

Employing a cautious methodology, the study classified pages as inaccessible if they elicited one of nine error codes, signaling the absence or malfunction of the page and its hosting server.

Navigating SEO Challenges Amid Digital Decay: Insights for Professionals

In light of this study, it becomes imperative for SEO professionals to prioritize regular audits and updates of aging content while vigilantly addressing broken links.

Moreover, the impact of digital decay on backlink profiles must be balanced. As external links degrade accessibility, they jeopardize a website’s link equity and authority, influencing search engine perception.

Monitoring and diversifying backlink sources is essential to safeguard against such risks, diminishing vulnerability to digital decay’s repercussions.

Lastly, the study’s revelations regarding social media content underscore the importance of directing SEO efforts toward steering users to more stable, owned platforms like websites and email lists.

If you need clarification, check out our monthly SEO packages and let the experts help you.