2024-10-07 | How Digital Self-Recording is Changing Memory
Never before have people collected more data about their lives than they do today. But what impact does this have on memory? A research team from the University of Würzburg and the Leibniz Institute for Knowledge Media (IWM) in Tübingen examined how digital self-recording influences autobiographical memory.
A hundred years ago, most people owned only a few photos of themselves and their families. Today, almost every moment can be captured – from a child's first steps to a holiday snap on the beach. In addition, there are countless digital traces in emails, social media posts, or fitness data.
The field of research to which the scientists, including Prof. Stephan Schwan, head of the IWM Realistic Depictions research group, have dedicated themselves has been barely explored until now. Regarding memory in the digital age, both opportunities and risks have emerged. For instance, digital recordings can assist people in everyday life and preserve important memories. On the other hand, they also open up possibilities for manipulation, for example through deepfakes, which could play a role not only in politics but also in personal memories.
The team has now published an overview of their research findings in the renowned journal Psychological Inquiry. A current press release summarises the key results.