The Location of Memory in the Digital Age

Abstract

This study explores how memory is transformed in the digital age, particularly focusing on the profound shift in ontology that characterizes online spaces. The author seeks to uncover the unique nature of digital objects, shaped by their semiotic representation, and to critically examine the implications of the mediatization of commemorative practices. The central aim is to investigate how technical infrastructures and programming languages delineate the boundaries of collective memory, replacing stability with the fluidity of algorithmic processes. The core argument is that the digital realm differs fundamentally from the material world. Virtual entities, such as monuments, emerge solely through code and its interpretation by software systems. Unlike physical objects, which retain their autonomy regardless of observers (like the "Auschwitz stone"), digital artifacts are realized only when data is decoded, transforming their existence into a continuous creation. This makes memory dependent on infrastructures like servers and protocols, rendering it vulnerable to technical failures or outdated formats. The author critically evaluates the role of formal languages like HTML, SQL, and JSON as a "Procrustean bed" for collective memory. These languages not only capture information but also reduce complex human experiences to atomic data elements (e.g., "name," "date"), particularly evident in attempts to archive tragedies like the Holocaust. This formalization is a consequence of the digital environment's semiotic nature, which excludes the ineffable within its linguistic conventions. Special attention is given to the transformation of social media commentary. Algorithms turn memory into a product of network interactions, where individual acts of remembrance (likes, reposts) follow the logic of virality and engagement. This creates a "connective memory" that links users through repetitive gestures but lacks the depth of historical understanding. Digital mourning rituals, such as virtual candles and hashtags, are reduced to standardized user interface components, indistinguishable from commercial transactions, which leads to the desacralization of memorial spaces.