Archiving Memories & Digital Reflection: The Tradition of Year-End Visual Recap

It has become an annual tradition for me to go through my photo gallery; to look back  at every moment that has happened over the past year, and upload those moments to my social media accounts. As I look back, I realise that life is never neatly structured. There are moments of joy and pride, alongside others filled with sadness and exhaustion. However, the wealth and variety of memories reminds me that everyone moves through time differently– each person has their moment, and every moment has its people.  

Through reflective captions, social media, especially instagram, has become a space where I can pause, appreciate, and make sense of the past 12 months.This phenomenon is not only felt by me, but also by many of my mutuals and friends on social media who also engage in this yearly routine, sharing their precious moments through photos or short videos, often with minimal captions or even without explaination. The posts they uploaded give the impression that everyone was closing the chapter on their year in a simple but meaningful way. Everyone went through the same year but in different ways. In this context, Social media is no longer a place for us to show off, but rather a platform for sharing meaning and experiences.

2025 Recap Template Short Video (source : Pippit.Ai)

This trend has spread beyond personal circles and communities to become a global phenomenon. From America to Europe to Asia, year-end visual recaps have become a popular way for young people– especially Gen Z– to reflect on their personal experiences and journeys throughout the year. This trend suggests that digital reflection through social media has become the universal language of the younger generation that transcends cultural boundaries.

The experience of creating photo recaps varies from person to person. For me, it is a medium where I can see and change my perspective on the past year, making peace with the process that has taken place. But this story is not always the same as other social media users, such as Camille Sinclair from Indonesia, who makes photo recaps every year. “Photo dumps don't change my perspective on the year, but rather remind me that time has passed,” she said. She added that when looking back at the photos, the memories and feelings she had at the time resurface. In the process, she often begins to romanticize moments that have passed, even though in reality not all experiences during that year were easy.

    Google Photos 2025 Recap by Gemini (Source : 9to5google)

Bianca Navabelle, a psychology student at a university in Jakarta, explained that social media, especially through practices such as December photo dumps, can be a healthy space for reflection if used in the right way. According to her, looking back at old posts helps us realise our personal growth over the past year and remember the ups and downs we have experienced. “Social media can be a healthy space if used for the right purpose,” she said. She added that this practice should focus on oneself and personal experiences, without putting others down or comparing oneself to others. In this way, photo dumps are not only a visual record of one's life journey, but also a means of coming to terms with the past and appreciating the process that has been gone through.

Photo recaps allow me to encounter every version of myself: my saddest self, my happiest self, the version that keeps striving to improve, and the one that feels tired and overwhelmed. There is gratitude that I have now, there are dreams that I have to let go of, and there is resilience to keep moving forward even though I am not always strong. 

At the end of the day, the photos we upload on social media aren't always about showing the moments of the year we've gone through. For me, this isn't just a trend, but the existing moments remind me that every feeling has its place. It serves as a reminder for us to cherish every moment and appreciate all the feelings that come with each moment. In the fast pace of life, visual reflection is a simple way to recognize that a year has passed with all its dynamics. Rather than a change in perspective, perhaps what we need is the courage to remember and accept the journey that has taken place, before stepping into the next year.