I am very fortunate to have had two grandfathers that were enthusiastic amateur photographers. I have spent many magical evenings looking at the glass negatives (yeah, that old) they have taken. Wondering about the people, the time and the legacy that the pictures represent. And perhaps secretly hoping that my grandchildren will do the same when it is their turn.

About 1200 people between the ages of 20 and 40 died last year in Finland. The internet penetration for that age group is virtually a hundred percent.

What has happened to all the emails, blog posts, photos and other digital things that these people have created? What happens to the Facebook, Habbo and Flickr accounts these people put time and effort into setting up and maintaining? Not to mention that the internet is not just for young people anymore. Everybody will soon have some sort of digital presence. And everyone must pass away eventually.

Even though the internet never forgets, I fear that something is being lost. How will the family members get access to the digital parts of these peoples lives? How will they even find out what these people have been doing online?

The good thing is that most of what everyone has created will go on existing for a long time. The internet never forgets, they say. The bad thing is that most of the stuff might never be passed on to future generations because it will never be found by anyone that cares.

As digital penetrates deeper in to our lives, more and more of the sentimental and actual value that we leave behind will be composed of bits. I think the time to start figuring out how to pass the value on to those it belongs to is now. Before the glass negatives are covered with digital dust.