diff --git a/website/canvas.html b/website/canvas.html
index dc40c4e..7200f24 100644
--- a/website/canvas.html
+++ b/website/canvas.html
@@ -1406,6 +1406,84 @@
 				display: none !important;
 			}
 
+			/* First-time forgotten explainer tooltip */
+			#forgotten-explainer {
+				display: none;
+				position: fixed;
+				bottom: 24px;
+				left: 50%;
+				transform: translateX(-50%);
+				background: var(--rs-bg-surface, #1e293b);
+				border: 1px solid var(--rs-border, rgba(255,255,255,0.1));
+				border-radius: 14px;
+				padding: 20px 24px;
+				max-width: 420px;
+				width: calc(100vw - 32px);
+				box-shadow: 0 12px 40px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);
+				z-index: 300000;
+				color: var(--rs-text-primary, #e2e8f0);
+				font-size: 0.85rem;
+				line-height: 1.55;
+				animation: explainer-slide-up 0.35s ease-out;
+			}
+			@keyframes explainer-slide-up {
+				from { opacity: 0; transform: translateX(-50%) translateY(20px); }
+				to { opacity: 1; transform: translateX(-50%) translateY(0); }
+			}
+			#forgotten-explainer.visible { display: block; }
+			#forgotten-explainer h4 {
+				margin: 0 0 10px;
+				font-size: 0.95rem;
+				color: var(--rs-text-primary, #e2e8f0);
+			}
+			#forgotten-explainer p {
+				margin: 0 0 8px;
+				color: var(--rs-text-secondary, #94a3b8);
+			}
+			#forgotten-explainer .tip-row {
+				display: flex;
+				align-items: flex-start;
+				gap: 8px;
+				margin-bottom: 6px;
+			}
+			#forgotten-explainer .tip-icon {
+				flex-shrink: 0;
+				font-size: 1rem;
+				line-height: 1.4;
+			}
+			#forgotten-explainer .tip-label {
+				font-size: 0.82rem;
+				color: var(--rs-text-secondary, #94a3b8);
+			}
+			#forgotten-explainer .tip-label strong {
+				color: var(--rs-text-primary, #e2e8f0);
+			}
+			#forgotten-explainer .proto-badge {
+				display: inline-block;
+				font-size: 0.68rem;
+				padding: 1px 6px;
+				border-radius: 4px;
+				background: rgba(124,58,237,0.15);
+				color: #a78bfa;
+				margin-left: 4px;
+				vertical-align: middle;
+			}
+			#forgotten-explainer .dismiss-btn {
+				display: block;
+				margin: 14px auto 0;
+				padding: 7px 20px;
+				background: rgba(20,184,166,0.12);
+				border: 1px solid rgba(20,184,166,0.25);
+				color: #14b8a6;
+				border-radius: 8px;
+				font-size: 0.82rem;
+				font-weight: 600;
+				cursor: pointer;
+			}
+			#forgotten-explainer .dismiss-btn:hover {
+				background: rgba(20,184,166,0.2);
+			}
+
 			/* Cross-space shape styling — colored border + source badge */
 			.rspace-cross-space-shape {
 				outline: 2px dashed rgba(99, 102, 241, 0.5) !important;
@@ -2128,6 +2206,24 @@
 		<!-- Hidden button for JS toggle reference (injected into identity dropdown) -->
 		<button id="toggle-hide-forgotten" style="display:none" title="Hide forgotten items"></button>
 
+		<div id="forgotten-explainer">
+			<h4>👻 Faded shapes are "forgotten"</h4>
+			<p>When you or others close a shape, it doesn't disappear — it fades. This is <strong>collective memory</strong>.</p>
+			<div class="tip-row">
+				<span class="tip-icon">🖱</span>
+				<span class="tip-label"><strong>Right-click</strong> a faded shape to <strong>Remember</strong> it (restore) or <strong>Forget permanently</strong> (delete)</span>
+			</div>
+			<div class="tip-row">
+				<span class="tip-icon">👁</span>
+				<span class="tip-label">Toggle <strong>Hide Forgotten</strong> in your profile menu to show/hide faded shapes</span>
+			</div>
+			<div class="tip-row">
+				<span class="tip-icon">🔮</span>
+				<span class="tip-label">The <strong>Collective Memory</strong> graph <span class="proto-badge">prototype</span> visualizes what the group remembers vs. forgets</span>
+			</div>
+			<button class="dismiss-btn" id="forgotten-explainer-dismiss">Got it</button>
+		</div>
+
 		<div id="memory-panel">
 			<div id="memory-panel-header">
 				<h3>💭 Recent Changes</h3>
@@ -6068,6 +6164,33 @@ Use real coordinates, YYYY-MM-DD dates, ISO currency codes. Ask clarifying quest
 				if (memoryPanel.classList.contains("open")) renderMemoryPanel();
 			});
 
+			// First-time forgotten explainer tooltip
+			{
+				const SEEN_KEY = 'rspace_forgotten_explainer_seen';
+				let explainerShown = false;
+
+				function showForgottenExplainer() {
+					if (explainerShown || localStorage.getItem(SEEN_KEY)) return;
+					explainerShown = true;
+					// Delay slightly so the faded shape is visible first
+					setTimeout(() => {
+						const el = document.getElementById('forgotten-explainer');
+						if (el) el.classList.add('visible');
+					}, 800);
+				}
+
+				document.getElementById('forgotten-explainer-dismiss')?.addEventListener('click', () => {
+					localStorage.setItem(SEEN_KEY, '1');
+					const el = document.getElementById('forgotten-explainer');
+					if (el) el.classList.remove('visible');
+				});
+
+				sync.addEventListener("shape-state-changed", (e) => {
+					if (e.detail?.state === 'forgotten') showForgottenExplainer();
+				});
+				sync.addEventListener("shape-forgotten", () => showForgottenExplainer());
+			}
+
 			// Re-dispatch comment-pins-changed on window so header bell can update
 			sync.addEventListener("comment-pins-changed", () => {
 				window.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent("comment-pins-changed"));