The Internet Archive, a nonprofit organization focused on preserving digital content, has launched a new WordPress plug-in called Link Fixer in partnership with Automattic, the company behind WordPress. The tool addresses link rot, where URLs in online articles lead to error messages or dead ends after the original pages go offline.
Link Fixer scans WordPress posts for outbound links and checks the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine for archived versions. If no archived copy exists, the plug-in automatically creates a new snapshot of the linked page. When an original link becomes inactive, the plug-in redirects visitors to the archived version to maintain access. It also archives the user’s own posts to support their long-term availability.
The plug-in runs continuous checks on links. If an offline original page returns online, it redirects users back to the live version instead of the archive.
A 2024 Pew Research study found that nearly 40 percent of links from 2013 are no longer active. This digital decay affects news sites, government pages, Wikipedia entries, and social media posts like tweets.
Controls for the plug-in appear on GitHub, where users can customize settings. Options include setting the scan frequency for link validity, with a default interval of every three days. The interface supports easy adjustments to suit different needs.
The partnership between the Wayback Machine and Automattic aims to help WordPress users preserve article integrity. WordPress powers a significant portion of the web, making the tool relevant for publishers maintaining historical references.
Link rot undermines online content over time. For example, references in articles from over a decade ago often fail, reducing reader access to supporting material. The plug-in intervenes at the site level to mitigate this issue proactively.
Automattic describes the feature as ensuring visitors read the best available version of any linked page. By integrating directly with the Wayback Machine’s vast archive, which captures web snapshots regularly, the tool leverages existing preservation efforts.
Users install Link Fixer through the WordPress plugin directory. Once activated, it processes existing posts and monitors new ones automatically.
