History KeepCirculatingTheTapes / WebOriginal

* Nintendo set every WebSeries/NintendoMinute episode to private at the end of 2022 after hosts Kit and Krysta went on to create their own channel.

* InUniverse, no known footage of ''ARG/WelcomeHome'' exists, but the archive team is trying desperately to recover any and all tapes linked to the show

** In 2012, a ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' fan hacked the account of legendary WebAnimation/{{YouTube Poop}}er Creator/{{mark3611}} and deleted all of his poops. Fortunately, angered fans have re-uploaded most of his poops. He came back in April 2014 with several new poops... only to have his account suspended near the end of 2015. Most of those have also been reuploaded, but "The third wave of feminism" and "THE TAPE THAT GOT HULK HOGAN FIRED FROM WWE" have not been reuploaded anywhere.

* Many WebAnimation/YouTubePoop creators have had their channels taken down for copyright infringement, or just closed the channel out of disinterest. Once this happens, if they have created notable videos, they will be gone forever, unless fans are kind enough to archive said videos and re-upload them. Notable examples include Igiulamam, Squirrelous, and [=CommanderGwonam=].

** Certain videos only exist through fan uploads, including many ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'' [=PSAs=] and special productions (though they're often included as extras in the show's [=DVDs=]). And 2020 saw two things that would rely on fan backups, [[https://boundingintocomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020.08.10-10.47-boundingintocomics-5f31ce9c84d1c.png RT announcing an ongoing]] [[BuryYourArt erasure of old videos “we no longer feel comfortable hosting on our platforms”]] ([[https://www.reddit.com/r/roosterteeth/comments/i67kc6/a_list_of_everything_taken_down_so_far_ongoing/ here's a list]]), and Ryan Haywood [[RoleEndingMisdemeanor being fired after the reveal of a history of sexual misconduct]], making many Creator/AchievementHunter videos [[UnPerson be edited to remove him]] (his role in a then-upcoming season of ''Red vs. Blue'' was also reddubed by another actor, though an early showing of the first episode ensured certain reaction videos have it still with Ryan's voice).

You see, the bad thing about the Internet is that, technically, everything on it exists in only one copy. This means that once the person who's hosting the content stops doing so... it's off to [[https://Archive.is Archive.is]], Wiki/ArchiveTeam, the Website/{{Google}} cache, and the [[Website/WaybackMachine Internet Archive]] in vain hope.

* The Wiki/ArchiveTeam is a group specifically created to keep circulating these metaphorical tapes when it comes to deleted web content. Its founder described it as a "league of archiving superheroes".

* Any time a ''{{VideoGame/MUGEN}}'' site goes down, whether due to a server failure or [[OldShame the owner of the site deciding they don't like their work anymore]], a metric ton of stuff usually gets lost. Even worse with [=WIPs=]—unless a beta version of the character was released before the deletion, you'll never get to see it in action. The MUGEN community sort of frowns on keeping the tapes circulated, though--[[DigitalPiracyIsEvil mainly due to warehousing]], leaked characters and the possibility of people recoding/re-spriting a character and saying it's "theirs".

** Certain videos only exist through fan uploads, including many ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'' [=PSAs=] and special productions (though they're often included as extras in the show's [=DVDs=]). And 2020 saw two things that would rely on fan backups, [[https://boundingintocomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020.08.10-10.47-boundingintocomics-5f31ce9c84d1c.png RT announcing an ongoing]] [[OrwellianRetcon erasure of old videos “we no longer feel comfortable hosting on our platforms”]] ([[https://www.reddit.com/r/roosterteeth/comments/i67kc6/a_list_of_everything_taken_down_so_far_ongoing/ here's a list]]), and Ryan Haywood [[RoleEndingMisdemeanor being fired after the reveal of a history of sexual misconduct]], making many Creator/AchievementHunter videos [[UnPerson be edited to remove him]] (his role in a then-upcoming season of ''Red vs. Blue'' was also reddubed by another actor, though an early showing of the first episode ensured certain reaction videos have it still with Ryan's voice).

* There were many parodies made of the ''WebVideo/AngryGermanKid'' video. However, some parodies have missing episodes that were either taken down or copyright-flagged (usually for using a popular song from the era). Some channels were even taken down due to either [[ScrewedByTheLawyers getting three strikes]] or OldShame.

* Website/GooglePlus was closed on April 2, 2019, due to its security problems and its low popularity.

* Who would've ever thought Website/GeoCities would go down? How many thousands of sites were lost? Granted, [[SturgeonsLaw most of them sucked]], but still!

* Likewise, ''WebVideo/NullmetalAlchemist'', Faulerro's AbridgedSeries of ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist'', got his [=YouTube=] channel taken down by Sony. While his channel was later restored, ''Nullmetal'' was not, leaving only the Christmas crossover with ''WebVideo/DanganronpaAbridgedThing''. Faulerro later deleted all his videos in late 2019 [[https://faulerro.tumblr.com/post/189498268560/hey-there-i-hope-im-not-being-too-rude-or out of frustration with YouTube's policies, particularly on videos "for kids" to comply with COPPA.]]

* Website/BlipTV went under in 2015. Many a content provider managed to upload their videos elsewhere... [[ScrewedByTheLawyers if the copyright claims on [=YouTube=], Vimeo, etc. allowed them to do so]] (some changed at least the most blatant copyvio to bypass this). Yet others still have their productions MIA - even worse for those that had their channels deleted once Maker Studios acquired Blip in 2012 and decided to streamline the website's content.

* The biggest Music/{{Duran Duran}} website for the longest time was one called the Lizard King Duran Duran website. It began its existence in 1997, at least a full year before Duran Duran began its own official website, and for years it provided far more content and was a far better website overall than the official one. Band founder Nick Rhodes even name-dropped it once on a BBC-hosted web chat in December 1998, making it one of the few to get official support. It has since faded into obscurity, and while its [[https://web.archive.org/web/20040208170332/http://www.lizardkingduran.com/ website was archived by the Wayback Machine]], the earlier iterations when it was an AOL-hosted user site and a great many of its webpages aren't accessible via the Internet Archive.

* After [=YouTube=] closed down the account of infamous game commentator WebVideo/{{Kolibiri}}, his hundreds of videos vanished up completely. Several users have already reuploaded a huge chunk of his videos, but it still seems that a few dozen are still missing.

** The first version of the first episode of [[Webvideo/ThatDudeInTheSuede Suede]] Played, which was shot in his parents' house, instead of his new one. It also was a normal LetsPlay, instead of the second version. It was accidentally uploaded to his [=YouTube=] account, and near instantly it was put on private. Thankfully someone [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5m0oidUc_o mirrored it]].

** ''WebVideo/ThatSciFiGuy'' became inactive after 2014, and with the blip shutdown, a large number of his reviews are currently hard to find. Some survive on [=YouTube=]... but with Russian voiceovers pasted onto them, creating a language barrier that reduces accessibility.

* WebVideo/JesuOtaku has a fair number of his older reviews missing, or only showing up in really unusual places. For example, his Evangelion review can only be found on a JAPANESE streaming service these days. Not helped that with the turmoil Channel Awesome began going through in 2017, he's adamantly opposed to bringing the stuff back to get bashed by association with the old site.

* ''[[http://www.zenhex.com The Mystery Of The ZenHex]]'' is a well known and acclaimed forum that used to allow people to post poetry and other user-created content. The site ended up morphing with [=myYearbook=] in 2005, and then banded back off in 2007, losing some of its content. Then, in 2011 the site completely remodeled and '''all''' of the site's 10 years worth of content was lost forever. You can view the way the site used to be on the Wayback Machine, but none of the user-created content can be located.

** As of 2013 it looks like the forum has officially been retired, and a lot the content can now no longer be accessed.

* Once a Youtube video is deleted, it's gone. ''Permanently''. Unless there's a reupload of it or it got archived in Wayback Machine, there's '''''NO''''' way finding a deleted Youtube video. If it doesn't get reuploaded or archived, any evidence of a deleted Youtube video is gone for eternity.

* Social media users also have a option to delete or even deactivate their account. If they choose to delete their account, then anything, literally '''''ANYTHING''''', their posts, their pics, anything they post on their account are permanently scrubbed from existence.
** If someone tried to access their deleted social media account, all it shows is a blank page and a message saying "User not found" or "Account is deleted" or something similar.

* Anytime anything gets taken down on Website/YouTube. The video site is notorious for cracking down unnecessarily on users who have videos accused of copyright infringement, regardless of whether or not the videos actually break the law.
** "[=YouTube=] DJ's" who upload electronic music are infamous for having their channels taken down after 3 years of unfettered activity and millions of collective hits. Greats like HDTranceMusic and Maikel631 had hundreds of videos during their heyday, and spawned dozens of copycats, re-upload channels, and name-takers as they were systematically taken down in waves by [=YouTube=] and copyright-trolling record labels.
** Anime Music Video creators also have it quite rough, as anime publishers and distributors can be quite protective of their work, and a rights dispute over an older series can get [=AMVs=] caught in the crossfire. Luckily, [=YouTube=] users have a much more "avid" community set up around [=AMVs=], and many have been fought for and won back. Still, it is not uncommon for a creator to give up on reposting their award-winning AMV after getting in hot water, or for an older creator to have abandoned his work.

* The [[https://web.archive.org/web/20101230225112/http://mslugdb.com/en.php Metal Slug Database]], a ''huge'' archive of all things ''Videogame/MetalSlug'' (including a lot of fan stuff and rarities) that started in 2003, suddenly went off the air in 2011, replaced by a single blog page with a cryptic comment from the mantainer, until even that one disappeared.

* Although Creator/MelissaHunter removed the episodes of ''WebVideo/AdultWednesdayAddams'' from her Website/{{YouTube}} channel after receiving a cease-and-disisst letter from the Charles Addams estate, fans of the series reuploaded the videos so they could still be seen and enjoyed (albeit not legally).

** Certain videos only exist through fan uploads, including many ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' [=PSAs=] and special productions (though they're often included as extras in the show's [=DVDs=]). And 2020 saw two things that would rely on fan backups, [[https://boundingintocomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020.08.10-10.47-boundingintocomics-5f31ce9c84d1c.png RT announcing an ongoing]] [[OrwellianRetcon erasure of old videos “we no longer feel comfortable hosting on our platforms”]] ([[https://www.reddit.com/r/roosterteeth/comments/i67kc6/a_list_of_everything_taken_down_so_far_ongoing/ here's a list]]), and Ryan Haywood [[RoleEndingMisdemeanor being fired after the reveal of a history of sexual misconduct]], making many Creator/AchievementHunter videos [[UnPerson be edited to remove him]] (his role in a then-upcoming season of ''Red vs. Blue'' was also reddubed by another actor, though an early showing of the first episode ensured certain reaction videos have it still with Ryan's voice).

** While Creator/LindsayEllis has opened [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLdcgni1mCq1OxUE3HIL8QQ a channel for most of her classic videos]], a few of them are still to be uploaded or can only be found in unofficial sources. This includes the ''Film/{{Dune|1984}}, yo'' [[http://lostmediawiki.com/The_Nostalgia_Chick_Episode_%22Dune,_yo%22_(2010) video]], which was taken down due to Lindsay iRiff of the film with Noah being intended to replace the review.

* While a lot of Nash's old [[Webvideo/WhatTheFuckIsWrongWithYou WTFIWWY videos]], Doctor Who reviews, and some of his Here There Be Dragons fantasy movie reviews are on Youtube and Vimeo, his review of The Crow is still missing as of Vid.me's shutdown.

** Certain videos only exist through fan uploads, including many ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' [=PSAs=] and special productions (though they're often included as extras in the show's [=DVDs=]). And 2020 saw two things that would rely on fan backups, [[https://boundingintocomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020.08.10-10.47-boundingintocomics-5f31ce9c84d1c.png RT announcing an ongoing]] [[OrwellianRetcon erasure of old videos “we no longer feel comfortable hosting on our platforms”]] ([[https://www.reddit.com/r/roosterteeth/comments/i67kc6/a_list_of_everything_taken_down_so_far_ongoing/ here's a list]]), and Ryan Haywood [[RoleEndingMisdemeanor being fired after the reveal of a history of sexual misconduct]], making many Creator/AchievementHunter videos [[UnPerson be edited to remove him]] (his role in a then-upcoming seasons of ''Red vs. Blue'' was also reddubed by another actor, though an early showing of the first episode ensured certain reaction videos have it still with Ryan's voice).

* Any page on [[Wiki/TVTropes This Very Wiki]] that enters The Administrivia/PermanentRedLinkClub or gets an Administrivia/ExampleSectionectomy. Even if the page or examples list is felt to have [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness outlived its usefulness]], there is often a lot of interesting and witty information that nevertheless gets deleted as well. Your only hope is to keep up with pending page or example deletions and back up the affected pages before it's too late.

* Two websites that compiled Japanese game sales, The Shrine of Data (closed in 2005 due to also publishing the American NPD numbers) and Japan Game Charts (closed in 2011) - which even have the problem of not being on archive.org anymore. (It gets worse when you consider Wiki/TheOtherWiki uses both sites a lot as reference...)

* One of the most popular vloggers in the earliest years of Website/YouTube was tokenblackchic, who ultimately decided to delete her channel. The only traces that now remain of her channel’s existence are a few videos that have been reuploaded on other channels, and the channel’s [[https://socialblade.com/youtube/user/tokenblackchic/videos/mostviewed Social Blade stats]], which show that she had almost 40k subscribers (a lot for the time period), and ''almost ten million video views''.

* Jon Hein sold the jumptheshark.com domain in 2006 to Gemstar, owners of [=TVGuide=]. Gemstar would go onto redesign the website completely in early 2009, taking all the show pages, votes and comments with it. For the longest time, robots.txt restricted access to old content on Web Archive. Thankfully, robots.txt seems to have been lifted, and most of the old pages before and after the March 1, 2007 site overhaul can now be seen.

* ''Website/TheAgonyBooth'' thankfully removed ROBOTS.TXT when most of the old content was put behind a paywall. And once the site was suddenly shut down with minimal warning beforehand in 2022, archive.org became the only way to read two decades worth of articles (the video reviews are at least still on Youtube and such).

* Jon Hein sold the jumptheshark.com domain in 2006 to Gemstar, owners of [=TVGuide=]. Gemstar would go onto redesign the website completely in early 2009, taking all the show pages, votes and comments with it. For the longest time, ROBOTS.TXT restricted access to old content on Web Archive. Thankfully, ROBOTS.TXT seems to have been lifted, and most of the old pages before and after the March 1, 2007 site overhaul can now be seen.

* Website/TheAgonyBooth thankfully removed ROBOTS.TXT when most of the old content was put behind a paywall. And once the site was suddenly shut down with minimal warning beforehand in 2022, archive.org became the only way to read two decades worth of articles (the video reviews are at least still on Youtube and such).

* While a lot of Nash's old [[Webvideo/WhatTheFuckIsWrongWithYou WTFIWWY videos]], Doctor Who reviews, and some of his Here There Be Dragons fantasy movie reviews are on Youtube and Vimeo, his review of The Crow is still missing as of Vid.me's shut down.

* The Lobo web series has most of its content kept in video mirrors on [=YouTube=] and flash files since it was removed from the website showing it.

* Following the success of ''WebAnimation/LucasTheSpider'', someone tried to make a series called "Daddy Spider", which followed Lucas' father as he tried to look for his son. It became fairly popular to the point where Youtube comments on ''Lucas'' videos would say that "his father was looking for him". However, because the videos directly piggybacked off "Lucas" (even including footage of the latter), it was deemed as a copyright violation. The videos were taken down and the Youtube account was closed, and looking for it on Youtube usually links to videos talking about the copyright fiasco.