Internet is eroding our memory?

Up to 71% of parents cannot remember their child's phone numbers.

Up to 71% of parents cannot remember their child's phone numbers.

People are too dependent on "digital memory" ?

Since people began to enter the digital era with computers and the Internet, it seems that we no longer have to try to remember many things. And then someone noticed that they would forget their loved ones' birthdays, miss an appointment if they didn't record it on their computer or phone. Researchers call it 'digital amnesia' syndrome. However, is this really an alarming issue?

In a previous Kaspersky study, scientists asked 1,000 people aged 16 and over how they used technology devices. The results were quite surprising: up to 91% of the subjects were dependent on the Internet and digital devices as a tool to remember. A larger survey of 6,000 people found that 71% of parents could not remember their children's phone numbers, and 57% could not remember phone numbers related to their work. This suggests that the use of digital devices to remember is weakening our memory.

Researchers believe that we have to rely on technology and Internet devices to lead to 'digital memory loss'. We will gradually lose the ability to store information by the consequences of storing them on devices or the Internet.

Picture 1 of Internet is eroding our memory?

Is the Internet eroding our memory?

However, there are studies that go in the opposite direction, scientists say that we are adapting to this 'insane' similar to evolution from shallow water. A 2011 study conducted a series of experiments to understand how our memories depend on computers. First, the researchers asked all participants to type a series of statements containing positive information, for example 'ostrich eyes larger than their brains'.

Half of the candidates said they could remember everything they had entered into the computer, half said they couldn't. The researchers then tested the results and found that those who were confident with their memorization expressed great frustration. They only recalled part of the information and even confused.

In the next experiment, the candidate is required to type and save the information to specific directories. After that, they continued to be tested for memorization, this time the researchers asked both the information and where they placed the file. It all demonstrates the ability to remember where to place files better than its content. This shows that computers and technology in general are changing the way we organize information. We do not prioritize remembering the specifics but only remember where that information can be found.

The idea that we are prioritizing the location of information instead of its content makes some researchers very interested. They say that today's technology and Internet devices are becoming a special type of memory. It is separate from each person, but anyone can access and share the information in it.

This means that the Internet and digital devices can form a shared memory store that individuals no longer have to memorize for themselves. They can access and extract information when they know another person is holding them. This activity makes information exploited by communicating with others.

Picture 2 of Internet is eroding our memory?

We are prioritizing to remember the location of information instead of their content - (Artwork).

Many other studies have also shown that computer storage not only changes the way our brains interact with them, but also makes it easier for us to learn new information. For example, in an experiment, researchers asked candidates to remember two files, each containing a list of words. Half of them were asked to memorize the first file to read the second file, while the rest didn't need to do this.

The results showed that participants recalled significantly more information from the second file if they had memorized the information in the first file. From there, it can be concluded that if we reduce the amount of information that must be memorized by digital devices and the Internet, it will allow us to remember more useful new information. For example, with the Internet and the lookup system, students today can reduce the load of memorizing historical events, mathematical formulas, periodic tables of elements . to focus more on meaning and text. nature of the lesson.

In short, you may be worried that technology and the Internet are destroying one of the most important human capabilities, we are unable to remember the phone numbers of our children or parents' birthdays. .

That is really true. However, the problem always has two sides of it . Technology and Internet devices may have started a new memory trend for humankind. Today, we can remember more from sharing common memory and using applications of technology equipment. And that's a step forward, not a memory degradation.

Update 15 December 2018
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