Digital immortality - from science fiction to potential internet reality

Abstract

The development of technology and biotechnologies in the modern society has seemingly made immortality more approachable to humanity than ever before; medicine is advancing, life is getting longer, anti-ageing techniques are becoming more common, and artificial intelligence developers claim to be able to offer the possibility for internet users to make digital clones. Through research of existing practices and interviews with internet users who have lost someone, this paper will offer the answer about how much are these practices actually commonplace and available to all. This empirical research looks into the reality of digital immortality, especially when it comes to the social networks and the online sphere.