There are several ways to describe the relationship between technology and memory loss. One way is that it can cause people to remember less well because they become too dependent on their devices for recalling information instead of using their own brainpower. Another way is that it can lead them to experience more stress and anxiety, which can also affect their ability to retain knowledge. There's also evidence that suggests that constant connectivity can impede creativity and innovation. In this paper, I will focus on how digital archives influence emotional forgetting rather than cognitive functioning. This has been studied extensively since the early 2000s when researchers found that individuals who used email regularly could no longer rely on verbal communication to store memories. Instead, they relied on written messages as an external memory aid. Since then, studies have shown similar findings for other forms of online communication such as text messaging and social media posts.
There has yet to be extensive investigation into how these changes impact individuals' abilities to forget emotionally charged experiences in their lives.
If someone has a difficult breakup or goes through some trauma, they may write about it in a journal or share it with friends online. But does this action help them move forward? Can they truly let go without having anything physical or tangible left behind? Or do they keep looking back at those digital traces, reliving old pain again and again? It seems likely that digital archives play a role in prolonging negative feelings by making them easier to access. And when you think about it, this makes sense - we often don't delete voicemails from exes because we want to hold onto them forever! Similarly, many people use Instagram stories to document their relationships even after they end because it feels like part of their identity. So, what happens when we start storing more and more personal information online? Does it make us vulnerable to cyberstalking or invasion of privacy? On one hand, it could be useful if someone needs proof of wrongdoing or harassment; on the other hand, it might make it harder for us to heal from past hurts since our brains are still processing emotions related to those events even though we try to ignore them.
I believe that digital archives complicate the process of emotional forgetting because they create an imprint that is hard to erase. The best way to deal with this problem would be to avoid posting too much personal information online altogether so you won't have anything to worry about later down the line.
There will always be situations where discretion isn't possible (e.g., work conversations). In such cases, it might help to remember why you originally shared something instead of focusing solely on how you feel now. And if all else fails, seek professional help from someone who can assist you in moving forward emotionally healthily without resorting to technology as your only crutch.
How does the digital archive of conversations alter the process of emotional forgetting?
The preservation of personal memories through digital archiving has become increasingly popular in recent years. While it may seem convenient and beneficial at first glance, studies have shown that such archives can actually impede the natural processes of emotional forgetting. Emotions are complex and multifaceted, and the act of remembering is deeply intertwined with the physiology of our bodies.