This Questionnaire Will Unveil Your 'Digital Hoarding' Habit
Is your phone storage always bursting at the seams? You may be hoarding your digital possessions.
By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | January 19, 2024
Minimalism can be hard to embrace. The idea that less is more has become trendy in recent years, and for those who love owning and admiring their little trinkets, knick knacks and treasures, it can be hard to let them go.
For those on the extreme end, it can be exceptionally difficult to let anything go. From piles of old newspapers and mail, to unused miscellaneous stacks of old or new objects, certain people struggle deeply with parting with their belongings. This is known as "hoarding disorder," and it is characterized by profound stress at the idea of getting rid of possessions, and often, an overwhelmingly cluttered home.
Hoarding disorder is well-documented and known by both academics and the public alike. However, its modern successor is less well known and becoming increasingly prevalent. Just as some have a hard time doing away with physical possessions, many people in the modern age have a hard time getting rid of digital possessions. This phenomenon is known as "digital hoarding," and psychological research has made it easier for this behavior to be spotted and understood.
What Is Digital Hoarding?
A study published in Social Media and Society defines digital hoarding as the accumulation of innumerous digital files, often leading to immense disorder and stress. In their investigation of the causes and mechanisms of the phenomenon, the researchers found that digital hoarding is more common among those who often compare themselves to others online. This struggle of comparison was found to lead to a fear of missing out, further exacerbating the tendency to hoard digital possessions.
People may digitally hoard various types of data and content for different reasons:
- Photos and videos. People may hoard a large number of photos and videos—capturing every moment of their lives—either for sentimental value, a fear of losing memories or a desire to maintain an extensive visual record.
- Documents and files. Accumulating numerous digital documents, files and downloads can occur due to a reluctance to delete anything that might be useful in the future. There might be a fear of missing out on important information, or a belief that these files will be needed someday.
- Emails. Hoarding emails, either sent or received, may happen out of desire to hold on to communication, history, attachments or information. It could also be a result of procrastination in deletion and organization behaviors.
- Social media posts. People might save or screenshot posts found on social media in order to preserve memories, compare their lives to others or maintain a curated online identity.
- Bookmarks and links. Hoarding bookmarks and saved links can occur due to a fear of missing out on interesting articles, resources or websites. People may save them with the intention of reading or referencing them later.
- Games, apps and software. Downloading and keeping numerous games and applications, even if not actively in use, might be driven by a fear of missing out on entertainment options or potential benefits, a desire to explore them later or a reluctance to part with things that once brought joy.
- Subscription services. Subscribing to multiple digital services, such as streaming platforms, music apps or online storage, without actively using them can happen due to a fear of missing out on content or a belief that these services might be useful in the future.
According to research from Digital Health, digital hoarding can be just as distressing and harmful as the hoarding of physical objects. The research notes that we can become as strongly attached to digital possessions as we do to our material possessions, and that this attachment-led habit can have the same emotional and environmental impact as physical hoarding.
How To Tell If You Have A Digital Hoarding Problem
Digital hoarding remains greatly understudied, given its novel and modern nature, while also having become increasingly prevalent. As its pervasiveness rises, the need to understand the causes, symptoms and mechanics of digital hoarding becomes greater.
To address this need, a study published in Computers in Human Behavior aided the development of a 10-item questionnaire that gauges digital hoarding habits. To complete it, one reads each statement and rates their level of agreement to each on a scale from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree":
- I find it extremely difficult to delete old or unused files.
- I tend to accumulate digital files, even when they are not directly relevant to my job.
- Deleting certain files would be like deleting a loved one.
- If I delete certain files, I feel apprehensive about it afterwards.
- I strongly resist having to delete certain files.
- I feel strongly that some files might be useful one day.
- I lose track of how many digital files I possess.
- Deleting certain files would be like losing part of myself.
- Thinking about deleting certain files causes me some emotional discomfort.
- At times I find it difficult to find certain files because I have so many.
If you struggle with letting go of digital possessions, take a moment to reflect on your deletion behaviors (or lack thereof) and the underlying rationale for holding on to them. Consider the emotional attachment you may have formed and the potential consequences of digital hoarding on your well-being and digital space. Ask yourself if the fear of missing out, sentimental value or the belief in future usefulness is driving your digital hoarding habits.
Conclusion
Letting go can be hard, especially in the digital age where holding tightly onto too many memories and plans is easier than ever before. Recognizing patterns in virtual stockpiling is the first step towards fostering a healthier relationship with your digital possessions. If you find that your attachment to digital files is causing distress or hindering your ability to navigate your digital space efficiently, it might be worthwhile to explore strategies for de-cluttering and organizing your digital life. Remember, a thoughtful and intentional approach to managing your digital possessions can lead to a more streamlined and stress-free digital experience.
If you'd like to take the Digital Hoarding Questionnaire and have your results sent to you by a licensed therapist, click here: The Digital Hoarding Questionnaire
A similar version of this article can also be found on Forbes.com, here.