Technology and the growing popularity of social media have been powerful tools that affect the daily lives of the majority of the population. It makes information readily available anytime and gives effective ways of doing certain tasks. Like any other, it sure has its implications on how people use their working memory to influence how their brains function. Everyday use of mobile technologies may have a long-term effect on how people think, remember, pay attention and regulate emotion (Wilmer, Sherman, & Chein, 2017). One can argue that the use of technology and social media has a profound influence on one’s memory. Technology prevents the human’s capacity to remember, it affects how people collect and store information, and the ability of human beings to think.
Memory is the capacity of human beings to gather, process, store, and retrieve information from the surroundings (Maguire, 2015). Taking pictures nowadays is relatively accessible by means of using digital devices. Technology permits people to capture memories in an instant using their smartphones. Even though capturing these precious moments can help revive the past, this can actually hinder people’s ability to remember. In a study conducted by Henkel (2014), participants who photographed objects from the museum were less likely to remember those objects compared when they simply looked at it. This suggests that when people depend on technology to remember things, for example, relying on smartphones to record and capture events can have an adverse effect on how well they recall their experiences. Moreover, short-term memory or sometimes referred to as the working memory serves as a temporary storage and handles information essential for multiple cognitive functions related to understanding a language, learning, and reasoning (Baddeley, 1986). It has a minimal capacity for storing memories. On average, a person can collect and retain at most seven to nine items (Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1971). Accordingly, when a person has an easy access to information found over the internet, it could bring about information overload. Especially when one is unable to handle plenty of impending information efficiently. This can lessen the amount of information that can be retained in one’s memory considering that countless information are coming in an instant and the brain does not have the time to process it all in a short period. As a result, only the recent information is retrieved despite a lot of facts encountered. Likewise, excessive social media browsing can put the brain at risk in its ability to keep information (International Business, 2013).
With the drive of technology over the years, the human mind has been compared with the Central Processing Unit (CPU) of a computer in the sense that both processes and stores information. Basically, computer codes information, stores and uses it and then, retrieves the information as an output. In the same manner, the eye takes in visual information towards the neural network of the brain where it is stored. The information received can now be utilized by neurons for mental activities like memory and perception. The output can be a behavior, for instance, to draw a picture of what was seen by the eyes. The use of technology eases the way things are done. Take into consideration the fact that people constantly forget special events like birthdays, especially when a person is overloaded with work. One solution is adding the event to your smartphone’s calendar so that you will be reminded of the event. Social media apps like Facebook already has this feature that reminds you of your friend’s birthday and even lets you send a birthday greeting.
The use of technology is evident in the novel written by Bradbury (2008). In this story, technology played a major part in manipulating the mass. Every household has parlor TV walls installed in their living rooms where laughter, music and pure dissonance reverberates. Montag once asked his wife, Mildred, as to why she was laughing while watching on the wall and yet she cannot answer him. Apparently, she herself does not even know what she was laughing about. It is evident that technology in this story has a negative effect on one’s memory and that it only serves to satisfy the demands of the senses but not really to ponder on things or events. Technology also has a huge influence on the lives of young people. Digital devices evolved into an essential part of their daily routines to the extent that it has turned from being a luxury to becoming a necessity. As reported by Mcmillan & Morrison (2006), young adults have an increasing reliance on the internet when it comes to managing activities concerning their day-to-day lives as well as establishing virtual communities.
Overall, it may be said that technology and social media have a powerful impact on one’s memory. It can alter how people perceive and interpret information obtained every day. Furthermore, technology affects the strength of information stored in a person’s memory. At times, people do not feel the need to remember as much information due to reliance on the internet.