Digital extension is such a fascinating concept, because essentially, to the loved one, the person didn’t “die” or did they? I was very intrigued by the episode “Be Right Back” for many reasons. For starters, they say when we lose someone, we gain a life; a positive approach that Martha could have taken when she found out she was pregnant.  Secondly, we see the different stages of AI being used (text, voice, body). Lastly, the a lack of grieving being done here. 

In a similar note, while watching this episode, I was reminded of the show Upload on Amazon Prime. It has a similar concept, with a different approach. It is the norm for a person to not pass, instead be “uploaded”. When they upload, they are given all of their memory; essentially, they are themselves and aren’t a copy learning who they were. Needless to say, the main difference between the two shows is that in Upload, they stay in the digital world (at least in season 1). 

In watching both Black Mirror and Upload, I questioned who the digital extension is for. It’s possible that at least in upload it could be for the individual, but in other cases, particularly in Black Mirror, it’s for the Martha (loved one) who is having difficulty letting go.  Those who choose to put their loved ones in digital extensions are essentially submitting themselves to persistent complex bereavement disorders. This means you have severe symptoms preventing you from recovering. These symptoms include Fixation on the loss, Difficulty accepting the death, Intense feelings of loneliness, and being inconsolable. Which Martha demonstrated at least two of these. 

To dive deeper into this concept, I want to focus on the boy Dylan from Upload. He was first introduced in season 1, episode 2; however, the more relatable episode for this blog is episode 5. Dylan’s parents, more specifically his mom, clearly has difficulty accepting his death. Dylan died when he was 11, and although he looks like a child, he has all his memories and has created new ones. Therefore, in Dylan’s “mind,” he continued to grow and is now 18, stuck in his childlike body. In the real world, his friends outgrew their conversations(episode 2), and his younger brother is going to the prom(episode 5). This led him to beg his parents to get upgraded and “grow up,” but his mom refused; she cried at the thought. 

With that in mind, as I already asked, who is the digital extension for? Is it for the individual,  possibly to not miss out on loved ones’ milestones? Or, is it for those loved ones to hold on to what they have, in what could be an unhealthy way?