This time on Human Friend Digital, Jacob and Jeff explore link rot, the slow decay of the internet as web pages vanish and URLs break over time. Websites may feel permanent, but in reality, they’re as fragile as a pamphlet—easily deleted, lost, or restructured, leaving broken links in their wake.
They discuss the impact of link rot on everything from SEO rankings to Supreme Court opinions, where nearly half of referenced links are now dead. Tools like the Wayback Machine offer a glimpse into lost pages, but most websites aren’t archived, meaning crucial information disappears forever.
To combat link rot, Jacob recommends 301 redirects for site updates, SEMrush for monitoring broken links, and periodic audits to preserve credibility. In the end, the episode is a reminder that the internet, despite its vastness, is more fragile than we think.
Links:
SEM Rush:
Way Back Machine:
Broken link checker. Org:
https://www.brokenlinkcheck.com/
SwiperJS:
Flickity:
https://flickity.metafizzy.co/
To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/
