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Why Doesn’t My Digital Music Feel “Mine”? Three Ways Digital Goods Are Diminishing Our Sense of Ownership
Aug
Our possessions – the things we perceive as “mine” – play an vital role in our lives. In addition to their functionality, they can serve as poignant reminders of cherished memories. They can symbolize not only who we are, but also who we were and who we aspire to become.
From faded photo albums to precious jewelry passed down through generations, every item has a story to tell. But how do our relationships with things differ when they only exist digitally?
Our music, films, books and photographs are increasingly accessed through digital platforms rather than stored on shelves. Do these digital objects really feel “mine” in the same way as physical goods? And can they become just as personally meaningful?
Over the course of seven years, I interviewed 25 people repeatedly, tracing the evolution of their relationships with digital goods. My research has shown that people often have a weaker sense of ownership of their digital assets and perceive them as less significant than their physical counterparts.
Read more: Tough Work and Elated Accidents: Why Do So Many of Us Prefer “Tough” Analog Technology?
Narratives of disappointment ran through my participants’ stories—their digital goods often fell low of their expectations. Here are three key ways in which these goods can disappoint us:
1. Limitations
We develop a sense of ownership of objects by: exercising control over themwhether through straightforward actions like cleaning the car and organizing bookshelves, or more intentional personalization. However, unexpected limitations can reduce our sense of control over our digital assets.
My participants encountered limitations in how digital items could be customized and displayed, and whether items could be transferred or shared with their loved ones. For example, while music lover Eve could freely arrange her vinyl records, her digital music organization was narrow by iTunes’ display options:
My digital music is… partly mine, partly not […] I don’t feel as much ownership as I do with my records. I haven’t been able to put my stamp on my collection in the same way, it’s all just automated and generic. iTunes organizes it, not me. So it doesn’t feel as personal… it doesn’t feel mine in the same way.
The fixed structure imposed by the platform left Ewa frustrated and undermined her sense of ownership.
Jonas Leupe/Unsplash
2. Instability
Material goods are often valued for their durability, which allows them to serve as repositories of memories and meaning.
My participants often assumed that their digital assets would reflect the stability of their material assets. However, companies often retain the ability to modify or delete digital elementswhich causes instability of our digital assets.
For example, David was frustrated when the covers of his Kindle e-books were unexpectedly replaced with fresh versions reflecting recent TV or film adaptations:
How do you stop Kindle from updating covers? They don’t need you to give them access, because they gave themselves access to all your stuff the moment you signed up… and if they can change covers, then you start to worry what else they might do, or if they’ll just disappear one day.
David is right to be worried. Amazon is famous for coming under fire to remotely delete copies of e-books from users’ Kindle devices. Recently, in December 2023, PlayStation users were shocked to learn of the company’s plans to remove purchased tv shows from their libraries, although the transfer took place later reversed due to reaction.
Such incidents highlight the fragility of digital goods, making users wary of forming deeper connections.
Perfecto Capucine/Unsplash
3. Invisibility
Participants longed for the kinds of serendipitous encounters their physical possessions elicited, lamenting the inability of their digital possessions to evoke unexpected moments of recollection. Their digital content was often largely unseen when not in apply—hidden away in devices and easily forgotten.
Alice found that the physical books on her shelves unexpectedly caught her attention, bringing back fond memories. However, her e-books were not noticeable and therefore unable to remind her of the vital moments they were associated with:
They are simply not “there” like my other books. They are, as it were, hidden deep within my Kindle… They do not remind you that they are there in the same way that [physical] books yes. Once I finish reading a book on my Kindle, it just gets archived and discarded, and I doubt I’ll ever look at it again.
Alice refused to let the memories of her favorite stories fade. Instead, whenever an e-book became particularly meaningful, she would buy a physical copy to display on her shelves, where it could catch her eye and trigger an unexpected nostalgia.
Avoiding disappointment
My research has shown that digital goods often don’t provide the control, stability, and visibility we expect from our goods. This can cause us to lower our expectations to avoid future disappointment.
My participants often decided that digital products would never be truly “mine” and that they would not be able to develop the personal meaning of their physical counterparts. Many consciously distanced themselves from these objects, avoiding robust attachments. Others, like Alice, turned to physical objects to replace or complement their digital possessions. This may partly explain the resurgence of analog formats, such as vinyl records.
Yet, while our digital goods often fail, many of us yearn to establish a deeper sense of ownership over these objects and make more meaningful connections with them. Through thoughtful design, companies can transform digital goods from sources of disappointment to sources of delight.
For example, reducing unnecessary updates can enhance stability, making us less afraid of attachment to digital objects. Facilitating the types of transfers that consumers are accustomed to in the offline world (for example, allowing users to pass on a finished e-book to a friend) can enhance users’ sense of control. And giving digital objects greater visibility through persistent displays and push notifications can enable them to trigger unexpected moments of reminiscence that people miss in the digital world.
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