How do you 'lose' a web map while making a web mapping application?

[AnnikaWilczewski1]

This has happened to a couple of my students this semester, and I'm not sure why this happens? or how to help them.

In developing a story map app, they save and share...

When I am given the link, it says "An error has occurred"

When I look at their content, I see the web mapping application which brings about the error.

I am suspicious because there is no corresponding web map. But where did it go?

Anyone have this experience? 

Annika

[CharlieFitzpatrick]

Aloha Annika! This can be a bad sign from which there is no recovery. The app (in this case a story map) depends on the existence of maps. Sometimes people unshare or even delete a source map, not thinking about what relies on it. AGO deletions are permanent (no oops, no recycle bin), and deleting a map used in a story map is like getting rid of the burger+bun inside the wrapper ... the wrapper is nothing without the contents.

     If "A" makes a story map, saves, and shares, and "B" opens it, the contents go into B's browser. If A then unshares or deletes a map, B can still display what is in the browser until the temporary cache is flushed. So different scenarios may yield results ranging from no big deal (unshare) to disaster (deletion).