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Digital afterlives: Tracing the resurrection process of dead online cultures Cover

Digital afterlives: Tracing the resurrection process of dead online cultures

Nordic Journal of Media Studies
Volume 8 (2026): Issue 1 (March 2026)
By:  and    
Open Access
|May 2026
Figures & tables

Figures & Tables

Figure 1

Four-field life phase matrix Comments: The four-field life phase matrix conceptualises how active online cultures or objects are, both technically (operationally) and culturally, and categorises post-operational life based on cultural activity, focusing on content that commemorates platforms or content that was previously published on them.

Figure 2

Image-based Internet memes of Vine versus TikTok Comments: Vine’s death and its rivalry with TikTok appear in image-based Internet memes, where TikTok – despite its dominant position – is portrayed as an anti-hero, and the short-lived Vine as an idealised, nostalgic, and misunderstood hero. Source: Memedroid, 2024 (left); Tumblr, 2021 (right)

Figure 3

Elon Musk posting polls on X asking if users want Vine back Source: Liberatore, 2022

Figure 4

IRC-Galleria versus Nordea Comments: Nordea is a Nordic financial services company and bank whose banking services have been known to have problems, especially in Finland. Translation: We’re keeping your account safe, whether you like it or not. Even if you last logged in back in 2005 and forgot your password in 2010. Even if everyone moved on to Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Your thirst traps are still there [left-side]. We lost your account. Again [right-side]. Source: Vainkeskiluokkajutut, 2024

Figure 5

A meme about the generational gap between a Habbo user and their parents Source: Habbopost, 2024

Figure 6

Resurrection activities and the case objects positioned in relation to the online objects’ life phases
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/njms-2026-0007 | Journal eISSN: 2003-184X
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Language: English
Page range: 117 - 136
Published on: May 4, 2026
Published by: University of Gothenburg Nordicom
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year
Keywords:
digital afterlives,
life phases,
media use,
online cultures,
resurrection
Related subjects:
Social sciences,
Communication science,
Mass communication,
Public and political communication,
Visual communication

© 2026 Lilli Sihvonen, Elina Vaahensalo, published by University of Gothenburg Nordicom
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Volume 8 (2026): Issue 1 (March 2026)
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