Social Media and its Impact on Memory

Our memories have been messed with.

In the past decade, social media has emerged as a dominant force in our daily lives, transforming the way we communicate, share information, and interact with others. With Threads being the latest flavour and (supposed disaster) of social, platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat have revolutionised the way we connect and stay connected with friends, family, celebrities, brands and dog influencers like Chapati.

After taking on the responsibility of becoming a teacher, a few things have become more important than others. Group dynamics, character for making conversations, voice modulation and information retention.

So, I wanted to discuss the potential impact on cognitive processes such as memory and data retention.

Memory is a fundamental component of human cognition that allows us to store and retrieve information from past experiences. Recent studies have suggested that prolonged exposure to social media might affect memory formation and recall abilities. The constant stream of information bombarding users through these platforms may overload their cognitive resources and hinder their ability to encode memories effectively.

Umm. Yeah. Mr. Huberman said this

The Cognitive Effects Of Social Media: How It Influences Memory

There is growing concern about its impact on cognitive processes, particularly memory. While social media platforms offer numerous benefits, such as finding out what Kanye did with the $75 Million that Adidas paid him for marketing Yeezy. Or what why Musk is suing Twitter’s lawyers, recent research suggests that its excessive use can negatively affect memory function. One cognitive effect of social media is the phenomenon known as “digital amnesia.”

With easy access to online information, individuals tend to rely heavily on digital devices to store and retrieve data. This reliance leads to a reduced need for active encoding and recall processes, ultimately impeding the development of robust memory networks. Moreover, constant exposure to a vast amount of information through social media feeds can overload working memory capacity. Multitasking on various platforms simultaneously further fragments attention and hinders effective storage of new memories. Understanding these cognitive effects is crucial in order to navigate the digital landscape responsibly.

Distraction And Shallow Processing

When individuals are engrossed in scrolling through their newsfeeds or checking notifications, they are diverting their attention away from the real-world experiences happening around them. This constant distraction can hinder the encoding and consolidation of new memories. Furthermore, social media encourages shallow processing of information. With an overload of content bombarding users, there is a tendency to skim through posts rather than deeply engage with them. Think about it. When was the last time you read a complete news article. Actually, even these words as I write them – probably 3 people would consume because our brains have been fused to begin and complete n content consumption at a rapid rate. So for those 3 people I’d like to ask a riddle. The answer to which is the last phrase of this article.

The riddle: How do you catch a squirrel?

Now back to the smart stuff:

Research suggests that shallow processing leads to weaker memory retention as compared to deep processing.

Some things we can do:

1. Set specific time limits: Allocate dedicated periods for using social media, allowing yourself to engage in other activities that enhance memory and cognitive skills.
2. Practice mindfulness: Be fully present and aware of your surroundings when using social media. Avoid mindless scrolling by consciously engaging with content that stimulates learning and critical thinking.
3. Embrace offline activities: Regularly participate in activities that promote memory retention, such as reading books, solving puzzles, or engaging in physical exercise. This diversification helps counteract the potential negative impact of excessive social media use.
4. Prioritise sleep hygiene: Establish a consistent sleep routine and limit exposure to screens before bedtime. Quality sleep plays a vital role in consolidating memories and promoting cognitive function.

Stay curious. Stay Secure.

See you next fortnight

Climb.

The views and opinions published here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.

Jai Bahal

Jai Bahal - Co-Founder @ NAVIC
NAVIC aims to educate, inform and train students, professionals and entrepreneurs about the future of communications. NAVIC has collaborated with SCoRe for its flagship course: EVOLVE – A first of its kind curriculum that discusses hyper-relevant subjects like Meme Marketing, Trolls and Bots, AI in communications and more.