A method for managing content in a distributed network, the method comprising: receiving content at a communication node; receiving metadata associated with the content, the metadata specifying at least one content decay equation for the content on the distributed network; storing the content and the metadata at the communication node; processing the content decay equation at the communication node at periodic intervals to determine whether to delete the content from the communication node; and responsive to determining that the content is to be deleted, deleting the content during the second time period; characterized in that said processing the content decay equation further comprises: computing a first value, at the communication node at each periodic interval, based on the content decay equation of the content; computing a second value, at the communication node at each periodic interval, using a random number generator; determining whether to delete the content based on a comparison of the first value and the second value; wherein the content decay equation specifics the decay rate of the content on the distributed network, the equation specifying a half-life cycle of the content on the distributed network; wherein said equation outputs said first value based on an exponential function of current time at the communication node, the function further incorporating: a value specifying the time that the content is launched onto the distributed network; a value specifying a time offset defined for growth of the content on the distributed network; a value specifying a mean lifetime for the content on the distributed network; a constant selected to maintain the content population on a certain minimum percentage of the communication nodes over a long duration; and a constant specifying the initial desired population of the content on the distributed network. receiving content at a communication node; receiving metadata associated with the content, the metadata specifying at least one content decay equation for the content on the distributed network; storing the content and the metadata at the communication node; processing the content decay equation at the communication node at periodic intervals to determine whether to delete the content from the communication node; and responsive to determining that the content is to be deleted, deleting the content during the second time period; characterized in that said processing the content decay equation further comprises: computing a first value, at the communication node at each periodic interval, based on the content decay equation of the content; computing a second value, at the communication node at each periodic interval, using a random number generator; determining whether to delete the content based on a comparison of the first value and the second value; wherein the content decay equation specifics the decay rate of the content on the distributed network, the equation specifying a half-life cycle of the content on the distributed network; wherein said equation outputs said first value based on an exponential function of current time at the communication node, the function further incorporating: a value specifying the time that the content is launched onto the distributed network; a value specifying a time offset defined for growth of the content on the distributed network; a value specifying a mean lifetime for the content on the distributed network; a constant selected to maintain the content population on a certain minimum percentage of the communication nodes over a long duration; and a constant specifying the initial desired population of the content on the distributed network. computing a first value, at the communication node at each periodic interval, based on the content decay equation of the content; computing a second value, at the communication node at each periodic interval, using a random number generator; determining whether to delete the content based on a comparison of the first value and the second value; wherein the content decay equation specifics the decay rate of the content on the distributed network, the equation specifying a half-life cycle of the content on the distributed network; wherein said equation outputs said first value based on an exponential function of current time at the communication node, the function further incorporating: a value specifying the time that the content is launched onto the distributed network; a value specifying a time offset defined for growth of the content on the distributed network; a value specifying a mean lifetime for the content on the distributed network; a constant selected to maintain the content population on a certain minimum percentage of the communication nodes over a long duration; and a constant specifying the initial desired population of the content on the distributed network. a value specifying the time that the content is launched onto the distributed network; a value specifying a time offset defined for growth of the content on the distributed network; a value specifying a mean lifetime for the content on the distributed network; a constant selected to maintain the content population on a certain minimum percentage of the communication nodes over a long duration; and a constant specifying the initial desired population of the content on the distributed network.