IPB University Lecturer: Digital Hoarding Can Affect Mental Health and Productivity
Have you ever felt reluctant to delete old photo files, chats, screenshots, or other items you no longer actually need? This seemingly trivial habit can actually develop into digital hoarding, the behavior of hoarding excessive amounts of digital data to the point where it becomes difficult to delete.
Agung Minto Wahyu, SPsi, MSi, a professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences (IKK) at IPB University, explains that digital hoarding isn’t merely about the number of files stored, but rather relates to a person’s psychological relationship with their own digital data.
“The problem isn’t the number of files we have, but rather how much control we feel we have over our own digital data,” he said.
According to him, saving sentimental photos, downloading articles to read later, or keeping certain documents is still perfectly normal. However, this behavior becomes a cause for concern when someone realizes a file is no longer useful but remains unable to delete it, to the point where it disrupts their productivity and daily life.
“Digital hoarding occurs when someone continuously saves digital files to the point where they can no longer distinguish between what is truly important and what is actually no longer needed. As a result, instead of providing a sense of security, the accumulation of data actually causes stress and a feeling of being overwhelmed,” he said.
Agung explained that there are several psychological factors that make it difficult for someone to delete digital data. One of them is the mindset of “it might come in handy later”. Additionally, there is an emotional attachment to photos, chats, or recordings that represent memories and one’s sense of self. Many people also save emails, screenshots, or conversations as evidence of work or communication.
On the other hand, the process of sorting through thousands of files requires a great deal of mental energy, so it’s often put off. Furthermore, increasingly affordable digital storage services create the illusion of unlimited space, so there’s no incentive to clean up data right away.
Furthermore, he explained that digital hoarding is closely linked to anxiety, fear of missing out (FOMO), and the need to feel secure through the possession of information.
“People feel anxious if they don’t save things, but they also feel overwhelmed because they’ve saved too much. This is where a psychological cycle emerges that’s difficult to break,” he explained.
In addition to impacting mental health, digital hoarding can also reduce productivity. Piles of unorganized data cause people to spend a lot of time simply searching for the files they need. This situation also increases the risk of information overload, a state where an excess of information actually makes it difficult for someone to determine what is truly relevant.
To develop healthier digital habits, Agung suggests that people start by building awareness of why they save a file. Set aside about 10–15 minutes each week to sort through data, establish simple criteria before saving files, and learn to distinguish between memories that are truly meaningful and files that are saved solely out of anxiety.
“The power of a memory isn’t determined by whether the file is still on our phone or not. What’s more important is building a more mindful relationship with our digital information knowing what we’re saving, why we’re saving it, and having the courage to let go of what we no longer need,” he concluded. (AS) (IAAS/LAN)
