Features like iPhone’s and Facebook’s ‘Memories’ can retraumatize survivors of abuse

While often considered harmless or fun, memory features on smartphones can have the opposite effect. (Shutterstock)

In contemporary digital society, remembering is automated. Social media platforms and smartphones often offer features like iPhone’s and Facebook’s “Memories” that resurface users’ past posts and photographs.

For many people, these reminders of the past are a source of joyful reminiscence. For others — like survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) — they can be harmful.