A new collaboration between major web infrastructure players aims to quietly solve one of the internet most persistent problems: broken links.
Internet Archive and Automattic have rolled out a new WordPress plug in designed to preserve articles as the web changes around them. The tool connects directly to the Wayback Machine, extending archiving beyond snapshots and into everyday publishing workflows.
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Rather than focusing on content creation, the new Link Fixer plug in works in the background. It scans outbound links in WordPress posts and checks whether those pages still exist. If an active page disappears, the plug in redirects readers to an archived copy instead of showing an error.
The system also takes preventive steps. When no archived version exists, the tool automatically creates one, helping preserve both referenced material and the WordPress post itself. User content is archived as well, adding an extra layer of long term protection.
Broken links, often referred to as link rot, have become a widespread issue across the web. A 2024 study from the Pew Research Center found that nearly 40 percent of links active in 2013 no longer worked. The problem affects news articles, government resources, academic references, and social media posts alike.
The plug in continues monitoring links even after a redirect occurs. If an original page comes back online, readers are automatically sent back to the live source instead of the archived version. The goal is to keep users reading the most current and complete version available.
Controls are intentionally simple. Documentation published on GitHub shows that users can customize how often links are checked, with a default scan cycle set to every three days. The settings are designed to remain accessible for everyday site operators rather than developers only.