Buy to own: the resurgence of physical media

The shift toward streaming services has eroded consumer autonomy, leaving audiences vulnerable to the sudden removal of media and the loss of cultural history. This precarity drives a resurgence in physical media collecting and the rise of "cyberdecks"—customizable, open-source devices that allow users to reclaim control over their digital environments. Digital archivist K.D. Kemp and culture writer Cat Zhang argue that relying on proprietary platforms alienates users from their own labor and history. By building independent archives and utilizing repairable, transparent technology, individuals can resist the homogenizing influence of big tech and AI. This movement emphasizes the necessity of citizen archiving to preserve marginalized voices and maintain a personal, meaningful relationship with media in an era of algorithmic control and digital decay.