Implications of Digital Inheritance in the Context of Memobilia, Smartphone Dependency and Digital Assets Formation among Youth

• Published in: JURNAL KOMUNIKASI-MALAYSIAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION
• Main Authors: Ali, Anuar; Salleh, Mohd azul mohamad; Mustaffa, Normah
• Format: Article
• Language: Malay
• Published: NATL UNIV MALAYSIA, FAC SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES 2024
• Subjects: Communication
• Online Access: https://www-webofscience-com.uitm.idm.oclc.org/wos/woscc/full-recordWOS:001362920500012

The concept of digital inheritance is a novel implication arising from the widespread dependence on communication technology by users worldwide. This concept plays a crucial role in managing the memory and digital data of individuals facing mortality in the 21st century. It emerges as communication technology, particularly smartphones, undergoes a transformation into a data digitization tool conceptualized as memobilia. This transformation influences the creation of digital memory and data, categorized as digital assets. Digital assets encompass data, information, memories, and digital platforms, each possessing privacy, sensitivity, sentimental, and monetary value. However, without the transfer of digital rights, these valuable digital assets cannot be inherited. As death is inevitable and unpredictable, awareness of the concept of digital inheritance becomes crucial for youth. This interest is particularly pertinent as youth constitute the highest demographic dependent on smartphones in Malaysia. This study aims to examine the relationship between memobilia, smartphone dependency, digital assets, and the awareness of digital inheritance. A survey method was employed, involving 395 youth in Selangor selected through purposive sampling. The survey data underwent analysis using the systematic procedure of Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The study results indicate that memobilia has a positive and significant relationship with smartphone dependency and digital assets, but its relationship with the awareness of digital inheritance is not significant. These findings imply the need for increased awareness among youth in safeguarding digital assets through the transfer of digital rights facilitated by the concept of digital inheritance.