digital amnesia
What is Digital Amnesia?
Digital amnesia means the experience of forgetting information like phone numbers, appointments, birthdays or anniversaries because instead of using our memories, we trust our digital devices instead, like computers, laptops, iPads and Smartphones.
Digital amnesia means the experience of forgetting information like phone numbers, appointments, birthdays or anniversaries because instead of using our memories, we trust our digital devices instead, like computers, laptops, iPads and Smartphones.
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What would you do in an emergency if your phone’s battery went dead and you couldn't call anyone because you couldn't remember any of your phone numbers?
It is important to print off a copy of your contacts or at least write down the important names and phone numbers on a piece of paper and keep a copy in your home and in your car.
It is important to print off a copy of your contacts or at least write down the important names and phone numbers on a piece of paper and keep a copy in your home and in your car.
Multitasking on our Smartphones is also a problem since we are only half-focused on learning new skills and retaining information in our long-term memory. Smartphones also overwhelm our minds with distractions, says Susan Lehmann, MD, clinical director of geriatric psychiatry and neuropsychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. That rapid change in focus can prevent an idea or thought from sufficiently registering in your memory.
Multitasking on our Smartphones is also a problem since we are only half-focused on learning new skills and retaining information in our long-term memory. Smartphones also overwhelm our minds with distractions, says Susan Lehmann, MD, clinical director of geriatric psychiatry and neuropsychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. That rapid change in focus can prevent an idea or thought from sufficiently registering in your memory.
Decline in Cognitive Abilities
When you immediately turn to your Smartphone or Google for answers, you are not giving your brain a chance to process and remember information that should be in your memory. Your brain doesn’t have to work as hard to remember details and over time, this may contribute to a decline in your cognitive abilities.
When you immediately turn to your Smartphone or Google for answers, you are not giving your brain a chance to process and remember information that should be in your memory. Your brain doesn’t have to work as hard to remember details and over time, this may contribute to a decline in your cognitive abilities.
Other Health Problems
According to the National Library of Medicine, youth who relied heavily on digital devices experienced sleep problems like insomnia that cause difficulty in falling or staying asleep, obstructive sleep apnea, circadian rhythm, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy, lack of focus, impatience, and increased aggression. The Kaspersky Report explains why we have to protect what we no longer remember.
According to the National Library of Medicine, youth who relied heavily on digital devices experienced sleep problems like insomnia that cause difficulty in falling or staying asleep, obstructive sleep apnea, circadian rhythm, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy, lack of focus, impatience, and increased aggression. The Kaspersky Report explains why we have to protect what we no longer remember.
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Digital Amnesia in Children
Children are also affected by digital amnesia. Teens who hold digital devices to the right side of the ear are more likely to experience memory loss. Excessive screen time, social media, calls, and messages can increase levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. Multitasking makes it difficult for kids to focus on a particular activity. They start forgetting things more quickly compared to older people who grew up without digital devices.
Children are also affected by digital amnesia. Teens who hold digital devices to the right side of the ear are more likely to experience memory loss. Excessive screen time, social media, calls, and messages can increase levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. Multitasking makes it difficult for kids to focus on a particular activity. They start forgetting things more quickly compared to older people who grew up without digital devices.
Overcoming Digital Amnesia
The following suggestions are a few ways to overcome digital amnesia and bolster your memory:
The following suggestions are a few ways to overcome digital amnesia and bolster your memory:
- Exercise your memory muscles by pausing and trying to remember specific information before turning to your electronic devices.
- Develop mindfulness through meditation to strengthen your memory.
- Play brain training games like Peak and Luminosity to develop memory recall instead of relying on search engines.
- Hide your Smartphone and other electronic devices in another part of your home so you won’t be enticed to constantly look at them.
- Go offline and turn on the Do Not Disturb mode in Settings, only allowing calls from special contacts.
- Socialize face-to-face instead of texting all the time. Talking and laughing with others stimulates attention and memory according to the Harvard University. Social interaction on the internet makes it difficult to distinguish nonverbal cues while face-to-face communication increases transitive memory development.
- Write down important information and dates that you want to remember. According to a 2014 study published in Psychological Science, writing notes on paper takes more time and focus than typing them on laptops or Smartphones and leads to better memory retention.
- Memory is refreshed during sleep so it is best to turn off all devices at least an hour before bedtime and charge them at another side of your bedroom so you won’t be enticed to look, hear or be disturbed by any light that comes from the device.
- The 2017 AARP Brain Health Survey lists other ways to improve your memory.