Definition and Implications of the Digital Near-Death Experience: A Theoretical Essay on Preliminary Empiricism

TL;DR

This paper introduces the concept of the 'digital near-death experience' as a metaphor for the profound personal impact of leaving a major social networking platform, grounded in theoretical analysis and personal reflection.

Contribution

It defines the 'digital near-death experience' and explores its implications, proposing a new conceptual framework for understanding digital disconnection.

Findings

Introduces the 'digital near-death experience' concept

Highlights psychological and social implications of leaving SNPs

Proposes a research agenda for further study

Abstract

Purpose: People are increasingly adhering to social networking platforms (SNP), and this adhesion is often unreflective, which makes them alienate data, actions, and decisions to tech giants. This essay discusses what happens when, eventually, someone chooses to cancel their participation in a large SNP. Methodology/design: This is a theoretical essay, whose narrative resembles a theoretical-empirical manuscript, grounded on the author's experience and his subjective perceptions regarding being out of the WhatsApp network (nowadays, the main SNP instance in the world). Findings/highlights: This study proposes a definition and implications of the supposedly new "digital near-death experience" concept, a metaphor for the classic near-death experience (NDE). A research agenda is also proposed. Limitations: The resulting propositions are grounded on a set of assumptions, that if falsified, make the findings invalid.