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Using Google to Calculate Web Decay

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the bit-rot-quantified dept.

scottennis writes: "Google has yet another application: measuring the rate of decay of information on the web. By plotting the number of results at 3,6, and 12 months for a series of phrases, this study claims to have uncovered a corresponding 60-70-80 percent decay rate. Essentially, 60% of the web changes every 3 months." You may be amused by some of the phrases he notes as exceptional, too.

3 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. One of the flaws by CmdrTaco+(editor) · · Score: 2, Troll
    I think one of the flaws in any analysis of the decay on the web is the fact that most news sites keep an infinite archive of almost everything they have ever published online. The specific phrases probably don't represent a large enough sample size to properly reflect all sites. Sure, he says he used many phrases, but all he gives us is "bill gates sucks", "life's short play hard", "blessed are the cheesemakers", and "late at night". To properly do the study, he should've used a random word letter generator or word generator and test the decay of that.

    But, it is interesting to see his results. I can only imagine that if Archive.org did a study like this, they would be able to make a more legitimate conclusion. Perhaps some collaboration is in order?

  2. Applying statistics meaningfully by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    It makes a ton of sense to conclude that information on the web 'decays' at a specified average rate based on the observations of 5 phrases.

    Good job, goober. Here's your PhD

  3. What ? - ?? by bushboy · · Score: 0, Troll

    This is news ?

    Or a joke ?

    Must be a joke - anyone basing 'research' or a 'survey' on 'bill gates sucks' and 'blessed are the cheesemakers' is either really bored, or trying to see how deep in the barrel /. will dig for 'stories'

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