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The Wayback Machine debuts a new plug-in designed to fix the internet’s brokenlinks problem
The Internet Archive has launched a new WordPress plug-in called LinkFixer in partnership with Automattic to combat 'link rot' by automatically redirecting broken links to archived versions, enhancing digital preservation for articles.
Key points
- The Internet Archive creates tools for preserving digital content.
- LinkFixer helps WordPress users maintain article link integrity.
- Link rot is the phenomenon of URLs that no longer lead to active pages.
- A 2024 Pew Research study found 40% of links from 2013 are now inactive.
- LinkFixer scans outbound links, checks Wayback Machine archives, and takes snapshots of pages if needed.
- It automatically redirects users to archived pages when original links fail.
Why it matters
- Link rot is a growing issue as digital content rapidly changes, showing the importance of tools for web preservation.
- The launch aligns with 2025 IT trends of enhancing user experience and digital reliability, especially in content management systems like WordPress.
The LinkFixer plug-in represents a significant step towards addressing digital decay, ensuring that online content remains useful even as the web evolves, which is essential for maintaining the veracity and continuity of information.