TOO MANY PHOTOS
How often do you use your smartphone camera? Studies show that 90% of smartphone owners of all ages use them to take pictures. At a café, people take pictures of their meal before they eat. During a family event, they take photos of relatives and friends. Anywhere they go – to the beach, to a party, even to the store – they also take selfies. It seems that every experience in their lives is photographed and saved on their smartphones.(lines 1–5)
Maybe you think that looking at these photos will help you remember the events. But if you think so, you are wrong. Think, for example, of the birthday party where you spent so much time taking pictures. Do you remember the conversations you had or the new people you met? Do you remember the taste of the food? Probably not. "When you concentrate on taking photos, you miss many different things – how you feel, what you hear, what you taste," says psychologist Sofia Miller. "And that's a problem because all these things help you form memories that last a long time. If you don't pay attention to them, you will quickly forget much of the experience."(lines 6–12)
The effects of constant camera use were also studied by scientists. In one experiment, for example, two groups of students toured a beautiful old building. They were told to remember as many details about it as possible. One group had their smartphones and took pictures. The other group walked around without smartphones. A week later, the scientists gave all the students a questionnaire to find out what they remembered about the building. They found that the students who took photos remembered fewer details than those who did not take photos.(lines 13–18)
So, is there a way to avoid the negative effects of using smartphone cameras? According to Miller, there is. "Just try to use your camera less," she says. "For example, when you're at a café with friends, it is best to spend most of your time talking to them and enjoying the food. Use your smartphone camera only to take pictures of special moments. That way, you will enjoy the whole experience more, and also have stronger memories of it."(lines 19–23)