The Impact of Online Space on Cultural Memory

Abstract

This study examines how cultural memory is shaped through digital image searches and the selection of female role models by university students, with a focus on technical students' memories of 20^th-century female figures. Drawing on Jan Assmann's theory of memory, we explore the interaction between mimetic, object-based, communicative, and cultural memory in online spaces. The paper is structured as follows: first, we provide a theoretical framework based on Assmann's concepts; next, we describe our mixed-method approach, which includes AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT), image analysis software, and content analysis of over 1600 images. Our findings suggest that online spaces both reinforce and transform historical narratives, often favouring mainstream representations of actresses and singers while marginalising lesser-known figures. Google searches and digital archives serve as primary sources of information, while algorithm-driven content influences the visibility of historical figures. This study highlights the challenges of authenticity in search results as well as the role of digital spaces in shaping cultural memory. By applying AI-based analysis, we present a model for integrating AI into humanities research and raise critical questions about digital forgetting, collective memory preservation, and the democratic accessibility of historical narratives. The findings underscore the role of education in promoting awareness of cultural memory in the digital environment.