Dr. Marina Otero Verzier & Patricia Reed

The exponential growth in digital data production and the associated demand for data storage significantly impacts the environment. Fuelled by outdated ideas of progress and endless growth, the digital industry depends on extractivist practices that result in vast energy consumption, land occupation, and CO2 emissions. The creation of alternative, digital worlds is not only outpacing the scalability of current storage solutions but also putting our physical world at risk.

The concept of “Digital Mourning” acknowledges the interconnectedness between the digital and physical worlds and considers the entire lifecycle of digital data, from its production to its decay and eventual disposal. It approaches data storage from a finite resource perspective, accepting the inevitability of data decay as a reminder of the fragility of the digital realm. By embracing the ephemeral nature of digital data due to technological obsolescence, corruption, and degradation of storage media over time, we could prioritise the preservation of what is relevant in the digital realm as a heritage for future generations. In this context, letting go of digital data that has become redundant, outdated, or no longer needed becomes paramount. Just as we mourn the loss of physical objects, places, and people, data mourning recognises digital data’s emotional and cultural significance and the need to let go of it meaningfully.