In this talk, we present a methodological outlook for empirical and historical studies of platforms, emphasizing their unique characteristics like programmability and multisidedness. We explore how web archives play a critical role in preserving bits of their past. Despite the challenges posed by the ephemerality and continuous updates of platforms, we show how web archives manage to save valuable information about their historical development and past states of operations. These archived pages are key sources for crafting the life stories of technological artifacts, including platforms and apps.
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