To ground the development of Preservr in a strong research foundation, we undertook a comprehensive literature review focused on the intersection of social media and personal digital archiving. By analyzing existing scholarship and real-world cases, our goal was to ensure that Preservr is not only technically responsive but also ethically, legally, and culturally informed.

We structured our review around four key thematic areas: digital archiving standards, social media platform functionality, ethical and legal implications, and existing technical tools. Each area directly informed critical design decisions for Preservr, from how data is captured and stored, to the platform’s usability and compliance considerations. After establishing these thematic areas, we turned to case studies to see how they intersect in real-world contexts.Special attention was given to case studies involving the preservation or loss of online communities and content. Our landscape analysis included in-depth examination of Yahoo! Groups, MySpace, personal email archives, and web content from the 2021 Canadian federal election to understand the real-life stakes of personal digital archiving.

In addition to mapping the current landscape, a gap analysis was conducted to identify where Preservr could make a meaningful impact within each thematic area and case study. This allowed us to situate the tool within both its practical applications and broader theoretical contexts. The literature review not only revealed where existing tools fall short, but also helped articulate a clear direction for Preservr’s development: one that is user-centered, sustainable, and responsive to the complex nature of preserving digital traces of everyday life.