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When the Internet Forgets, Does History Disappear?

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The Internet has become the dominant repository of human activity and collective memory. Yet, the assumption of its permanence is increasingly challenged by the phenomenon of digital disappearance. This paper examines how the loss of online records affects historical verification, digital epistemology, and the integrity of collective memory. It argues that as artificial intelligence (AI) systems learn from what remains digitally accessible, the erosion of authentic records may distort future understandings of history.

Source: Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.22291664

Author: Rahman, Hakikur

Institution: International Standard University

Language: English

Topic: Digital and Traditional Archives Management

Subfield: Conservation

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W7208779274

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