Where did the old web go? We followed 657,607 links to find out
0.mk
August 13, 2026
5 min read
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55/100
Summary
A restored database of 657,607 links from 2009 to 2014 shows that 76.7% of the crawlable links no longer returned a loading page in August 2026. The data primarily reflects the activity of users in Macedonia and does not represent the entire web.
Key Takeaways
- 76.7% of the 655,178 crawlable links from a 2009-2014 database no longer returned a loading page in August 2026.
- Only 21.3% of the 494,781 distinct URLs loaded successfully, indicating a significant loss of online content over time.
- The majority of surviving links were to major platforms like YouTube and Wikipedia, while personal blogs and local news sites showed higher rates of unavailability.
- The data reflects the decline of smaller, community-driven websites compared to the resilience of larger, centralized web services.
Community Sentiment
Positives
- HN is a living example of a simple website facilitating discussion between humans with a shared interest — a refreshing reminder of the old web's community spirit.
- The idea that the 'old web' could return resonates with some, hinting at a future where the internet is once again for the 'nerds' and not just corporate interests.
Concerns
- Calling 2009-2014 the 'old web' is laughable; that era is far from the genuine charm of the early internet.
- The expectation that URLs would be permanent is a distant memory now, as people seem indifferent to the fragility of online content.
