Public Health approaches to Digital Assets, Digital Legacy and Digital Bereavement
The importance society places on both their digital legacy and the digital legacy of loved one’s has increased significantly over the past 10 years. With increased importance and both relatively low awareness and planning within this area, this paper will explore the current and future role of public health and digital legacy within governments, health institutions and individuals. Benefits of someone making plans for their digital assets and safeguarding a digital legacy can include improved feelings of wellbeing and control. Other benefits ranging from financial to reducing the administrative burdens can also take place.
The Digital Legacy Association is the professional body dedicated to raising standards and awareness in areas relating to digital assets and digital legacy. Examples of the Digital Legacy Association’s ongoing research and campaigning within the public health arena and the subsequent outcomes will be examined. Free to access material for use in clinical and non-clinical settings will be shared.
MyWishes empowers society to make plans for both their digital and physical lives. Different approaches to digital legacy and public health are utilised through the platform, professional and public facing campaigns. Case studies of work and the impact this has made will be shared.
The objective of this paper is for professionals to think about the ways in which we can better support communities with their digital lives and the digital legacy of loved one’s. This might include evaluating and updating existing policies and overcoming hurdles at places of work. It might include up-skilling colleagues and adapting current practice for an increasingly digitally empowered and knowledgeable population.
About James Norris
James Norris is the founder of the Digital Legacy Association & MyWishes. He is also the Digital Research Fellow at Harlington Hospice and Design Research Fellow at The Velindre Cancer Centre.
Over the last 15 years James has developed and explored how technology can be used to help improve end of life communication, planning and care.
In 2015 he launched the Digital Legacy Association at Hospice UK’s annual conference to support professionals and the general public in areas relating to digital assets planning and digital legacy safeguarding. MyWishes takes both a public health and a ‘digital first’ approach to digital legacy and end of life planning. They educate and empower society to document their future health and wider wishes. MyWishes content, structure and design has been developed to help introduce planning at an early stage in someone’s life. They only work with health services, local councils and the charity sector. It is free for all to use.
James consults various governmental and non-governmental organisations across the globe in areas relating to death and the internet. He provides thought leadership in areas relating to death, bereavement, technology and the internet. This takes place across TV, online, print and adademia. Appearances and publications range from BBC Breakfast and CNN to the New Scientist and Vice magazine.
James also holds a post as an observer at the European Law Institute’s Digital Assets Project (on behalf of the Digital Legacy Association).
