Archiving

In the context of social media, archiving refers to the process of saving or storing specific posts, photos, videos, or other content in a private, hidden space within the platform. When a user archives a post, it is no longer publicly visible, but the user can still access it on the platform at any time. In this way, the archiving function allows users to 'preserve' a post in a way that is similar to keeping it on an old-school floppy disk.

Certainly, not all social media users are collectors in this way. But for those who are, the archiving function can fulfill part of their tug-and-dip aesthetics. And even those who do not snowclone their profiles might see archiving as the perfect way to obfuscate what one is up to on a given day.

After all, if one can look at posts from last year and see into the past, why can't the same be done with right now? Some psychologists would probably say it is better for public mental health if personalities are evergreen and the perma in permaculture.