‘You Can’t Delete a Memory’: Managing the Data Past on Social Media in Everyday Life

This article explores how the data past on social media, in form of packaged ‘memories’, is managed by people everyday life. Drawing interview and focus group data, I examine make sense as ‘memories’ these are negotiated when considered painful, awkward, or simply ‘out place’. As such, outlines discusses three specific ‘tactics’ used to manage First, explore use ‘deletion’ it foregrounds ways which seek render certain aspects their invisible, especially memories painful inconsistent with current view self. Second, through tactic ‘delaying’, examines some participants sought delay emotional engagements digital rather than delete them. Finally, ‘linking’ highlights that were insufficiently contextualised, disjointed, felt out place. contributes our understanding well complex dynamics inherent contemporary memory work.