This is a non-exhaustive list of various ways websites can shut down and user content can be permanently deleted. The author emphasizes the importance of proactive backups to keep data safe. They mention that sometimes websites can suddenly become profitable, but this is not something to count on. The author categorizes different situations that can lead to a website shutting down, such as being acquired by another company, being outcompeted by a rival, or experiencing financial difficulties. They also discuss instances of censorship on popular platforms like Reddit, YouTube, and Facebook, where content is removed based on artificial intelligence algorithms that may make mistakes. The author advises users to make local backups of their data to avoid permanent loss.
https://wiki.archiveteam.org/index.php/A_Million_Ways_to_Die_on_the_Web