The psychology of digital legacy: Conceptual transformation, mechanisms, and implications for well-being

Abstract

Digital legacy refers to the digital traces individuals leave behind that continue to represent their identities, memories, and relationships after death. This review examines digital legacy from psychological perspectives, focusing on conceptual transformation, underlying mechanisms, and its impact on well-being. Drawing on traditional legacy motives, it integrates existential, relational, and narrative identity theories with digital contexts to explore how digital legacy shapes meaning for both individuals and communities. A temporal-relational framework comprising three phases (creation, co-existence, and reception) is proposed to conceptualize digital legacy as a dynamic psychological ecosystem in which the well-being of legacy creators and receivers is continuously constructed through interaction, reflection, and remembrance. The review highlights both benefits, such as symbolic immortality and emotional continuity, and risks, including anxiety, authenticity loss, and emotional entrapment. Finally, it outlines theoretical and practical directions emphasizing digital legacy, guided co-creation, and ethical design for psychologically healthy engagement with digital legacy in the digital age.