Dealing with Dead Links (404s): 2026 Edition

The article explores the issue of dead links (404 errors) from a webmaster's perspective, using Ahrefs to detect them. It explains how link rot harms user experience and SEO rankings, and reflects on the dynamic nature of the internet where sites disappear or change URLs. The author laments the decline of organic discovery due to big tech walled gardens, AI-generated content, and algorithm penalties. It touches on tech trends like RSS feeds, Mastodon for developer communities, and the struggle for visibility in a bot-filled, ad-driven environment. The piece is relevant to web development, SEO, and tech industry trends, offering a personal yet technical take on maintaining a website in 2026.