# How to Save Your Digital Life

> Archiving your digital life prevents loss of work and memories after death.
- Title: How to Save Your Digital Life · Defector | Shortify
- Summary: Archiving your digital life prevents loss of work and memories after death. Alex Sujong Laughlin created a digital archive using external drives and cloud…
- Keywords: digital archiving, bit rot, link rot, margot note, personal digital archiving, preserve this podcast, we're all gonna die, technology, news, Save, Digital, Life
- Source: Defector — https://defector.com/how-can-i-hang-on-to-my-digital-life
- Published: 2026-10-23T16:36:39+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: digital archiving, bit rot, link rot, margot note, personal digital archiving, preserve this podcast, we're all gonna die, technology, news
## Digital Storage Anxiety
Alex Sujong Laughlin worries about running out of digital storage space on multiple platforms.
## Digital Fragility
Margot Note warns that digital files can become unreadable due to bit rot over time.

> People do not realize how fragile digital media is
## Archiving Practices
Margot Note suggests refreshing and migrating digital files to prevent data loss.

> Digital files actually require active maintenance
## 3-2-1 Rule
The 3-2-1 rule recommends three copies of files, two media types, and one separate location.

> Make three copies of something, store it in at least two types of media, and keep one copy at a physically separate location
## Storage Setup
Alex uses 58 GB Google Drive, 6 GB Defector Drive, 3.19 TB Dropbox, and 535.45 GB iCloud.
## Hard Drive Migration
Alex reformatted an 8TB hard drive from 2010 to use for archiving after 2020.
## File Organization
Alex created folders for each year starting in 2016 and a pre-2016 folder for older files.
## Oldest Files
Alex found a 2011 writing sample for an internship he eventually got.
## File Migration
Alex migrated files from Google Drive to an external hard drive over three days.
## Hard Drive Glitch
The oldest hard drive made a clicking sound and disconnected frequently during migration.
## Archiving Advice
Margot Note recommends archiving as a practice, not a one-time event.

> I think just, like, setting a timer and saying, 'I'm gonna work on this for 20 minutes'
## Personal Archive
Alex plans to keep an archive of work and family photos for future access.
## Digital Legacy
Alex wants to preserve digital life for future generations and personal satisfaction.
## Archive Benefits
Alex found patterns in his curiosity and work through the archive process.
## Future Steps
Alex will continue migrating files and setting up a regular archiving schedule.
## Digital Death
Alex believes digital life will end when he dies, so he's creating an archive now.
## Key takeaway

Alex Sujong Laughlin created a digital archive using external drives and cloud storage to preserve work and family photos for future access.