Chapter 1: The Illusion of Digital Permanence

Recently, I've come to a stark realization: our digital assets might not be as permanent as we once believed.

Photo by Denny Müller on Unsplash

I recently purchased a 2 TB external SSD to back up my iTunes library, which mainly consists of movies, concerts, and TV shows. Given that this content is DRM-protected, Apple facilitates the download of these purchases. Over the years, I've accumulated enough content to exceed the drive's capacity. However, as I transferred everything, I realized that this approach doesn’t truly address the underlying issue.

The Ephemeral Nature of Digital Data

Today, we exist in an overwhelmingly digital world. Most of our activities create a digital footprint. Add to that the content we share on social media and our online interactions, and it’s clear that digital has become the norm. It’s likely that more individuals are familiar with the term digital than with analogue.

Younger generations often encounter physical media only through documentaries or museums, and when they do, they may find it perplexing. For example, how many people can identify a vinyl record, understand its function, or even know where to find one? In contrast, if you ask about streaming music, you'll likely get a flood of recommendations for favorite services.

In our rush to embrace the digital age, we tend to overlook a critical detail — the transient nature of digital content. In just a few decades, we've reached a point where all our memories, media, and important documents can vanish in an instant. This isn't an exaggeration. Consider an average person with 2 TB of data collected over 35 years — from documents to music and personal photos. A typical SSD can be wiped clean in mere seconds.

Data loss can occur for various reasons. Currently, consumers lack reliable archival solutions for digital storage. Studies have shown that SSDs can suffer data corruption after years of inactivity. In fact, regular use can increase the risk of data loss. Research from PCWorld has highlighted the unreliability of solid-state drives, concluding that digital does not equate to permanence.

While one might argue that everyone should back up their data, the reality is that backups are just as prone to failure as the original storage medium. Even the so-called rule of three, which advocates maintaining three copies, may simply lead to spending more money on devices that could fail within the same timeframe.

Some advocates recommend using M-Discs, which claim to preserve data for a millennium. While that sounds appealing, there are limitations. Each M-Disc holds a maximum of 100 GB, which means you'd need 50 discs for a 5 TB collection. This isn’t insurmountable, but it does present a challenge.

The more significant issue lies in retrieving the data. Although many DVD and Blu-ray players can read M-Discs, the technology to access that data may become obsolete. In 50 years, it's likely that these players will be hard to come by. Most computers no longer include optical drives, and manufacturers have little incentive to produce them. Even if you plan to keep your old drive, it may not last for decades, and components will inevitably deteriorate over time.

Physical Storage: A Lasting Investment

With proper care, physical media can endure through time. We have ancient scrolls that have survived millennia, libraries filled with books centuries old, and even Edison cylinder records that still play. I own many of these items myself. If Apple were to remove my access to Apple Music, I would still have over 200 records to enjoy. Books offer a similar sense of security, but movies are trickier.

Collecting Blu-rays and DVDs is likely a more sound strategy than relying solely on streaming services, but optical media is not immune to age. I consider it a better investment than legal downloads from platforms like iTunes, which are bound by DRM and reliant on the continued existence of companies like Apple for access in the future.

The value of physical media tends to fluctuate initially but often rises dramatically over time. Many records from 15 to 50 years ago now sell for staggering amounts.

The Myth of Lifetime Storage

It's a bitter pill to swallow, but the idea of lifetime digital storage seems increasingly unrealistic. While we all recognize the brevity of life, we want our digital creations and acquisitions to endure alongside us. Unfortunately, that's not the reality. We find ourselves in a position where digital data is inherently insecure. If the internet were disrupted, or if a drive fails, recovery may be impossible. Even backups stored off-site are vulnerable to disasters, and the technology isn't built for longevity.

Some might argue that it's technically possible to preserve digital data for a century, but I remain skeptical. Currently, the best option is to regularly transfer data from outdated storage to modern formats every 5 to 10 years, all while hoping that the data remains intact. The thought of needing to "cross my fingers" every time I save my life's work is unsettling.

Chapter 2: The Risks of Data Loss

In the first video, What if you lost all data? Prevent data loss - don’t be the one that loses everything, the creator discusses the critical importance of safeguarding our digital assets. The video elaborates on practical strategies to ensure that we do not become victims of data loss.

The second video, Data Loss: If you haven't lost data, you're going to lose it... Unless you do like me, emphasizes the inevitability of data loss and suggests proactive measures for safeguarding our information.

Attila Vago — Software Engineer dedicated to enhancing the world one line of code at a time. A lifelong tech enthusiast, writer, advocate for web accessibility, Lego aficionado, and vinyl record collector. Enjoys craft beer!