Leaving images on a memory card for long term storage?

Is it OK to keep images on a memory card for a long time or is there a time when data just starts to get corrupt or something happens that could erase the images  

Any card is flash memory… very stable and no moving parts.
Data corruption is not time related.

I just wouldn't take the chance.  I back up all my photos and formate my cards after each use. 

This brings up a good question, what will potentially damage data on a memory card.  I'm not talking about water or stepping on the card.  Will magnetic field mess with the information at all?  There must be some limitations, I can't imagine that photos on a card right now will be on there 200 years from now.  Hmmmm this question has be very curious now.  

Where are all the smart people at?  

Malcolm Unger wrote: This brings up a good question, what will potentially damage data on a memory card.  I'm not talking about water or stepping on the card.  Will magnetic field mess with the information at all?  There must be some limitations, I can't imagine that photos on a card right now will be on there 200 years from now.  Hmmmm this question has be very curious now.

Why not? Do you understand how SD card storage works? 

Data is saved on them without some form of electricity. That implies permanence.

I don't think that magnetic fields affect SD cards. I could be wrong but don't feel like going to Wikipedia  to look it up (hint, hint).

garyrhook wrote:

Malcolm Unger wrote: This brings up a good question, what will potentially damage data on a memory card.  I'm not talking about water or stepping on the card.  Will magnetic field mess with the information at all?  There must be some limitations, I can't imagine that photos on a card right now will be on there 200 years from now.  Hmmmm this question has be very curious now.

Why not? Do you understand how SD card storage works? 

Data is saved on them without some form of electricity. That implies permanence.

I don't think that magnetic fields affect SD cards. I could be wrong but don't feel like going to Wikipedia  to look it up (hint, hint).

Well what I have found so far is that memory cards won't be affected with magnets.  I clearly don't understand how SD cards work, but willing to learn.  When you format a memory card, all that data is zapped away, which means this isn't permanent. Right?  Or am I mistaken?  Which means there are things that can wipe the card clean.     Like I said, interesting stuff! 

Yeah, the data will be fine. 

Why not?  These cards use the same technology as SSD hard drives. As long as you have things labeled, you'll be fine. 

Malcolm Unger wrote: When you format a memory card, all that data is zapped away, which means this isn't permanent. Right?  Or am I mistaken?  Which means there are things that can wipe the card clean.     Like I said, interesting stuff! 

Electricity is required to manipulate or access the contents of the device. Without electricity, it's just a static state otherwise.

I wouldn't only because of the possibility of losing the memory card would be a big concern of mine.  They are so easy to misplace as it is! 

Matt Nguyen wrote: I wouldn't only because of the possibility of losing the memory card would be a big concern of mine.  They are so easy to misplace as it is! 

+1 I was thinking the same thing! 

Matt Nguyen wrote: I wouldn't only because of the possibility of losing the memory card would be a big concern of mine.  They are so easy to misplace as it is! 

CDs were in that regard better, I agree on that, but that
was a thing they had and it could be written on them.
Otherwise, cards (CF, SD XQD), are more reliable.

WOW, that's something I haven't heard in a while, "CDs"!  Old school!

We still have a couple of hundreds unwritten CD's that I promised
to keep for a school project next year — for the construction of a
solar cooker!

That's one thing you could dow with them, just use a large washer and screw in the center to lock them down.  What year are you?