TOO MANY PHOTOS?
How often do you use your smartphone camera? Surveys show that about 90% of smartphone owners of all age groups do so regularly. At a café, people take pictures of their meal before they eat. During family celebrations, they are busy taking photos of relatives and friends. Wherever they are, they might also take selfies. Every life experience seems to find its way onto the smartphone.(lines 1–5)
You might think that looking at these photos will help you recall your experiences. But is that really so? Think, for example, of the family event where you spent so much time taking pictures. Can you recall conversations you had or new people you met? Do you remember the taste of the food or the scent of the flowers? Probably not. "When you focus on taking photos, you are likely to miss many different aspects of an experience – how you feel, what you hear, what you smell or taste," explains psychologist Sofia Miller. "And that's a problem because you can form long-lasting memories only if you notice many of these things."(lines 6–12)
The effects of camera use on memory have also been investigated in scientific studies. In one experiment, for example, two groups of students toured a beautiful, historic building and were told to remember as many details about it as possible. One group had their smartphones and took pictures as they toured; the other group walked around without smartphones. A week later, both groups filled out a questionnaire. It was found that the students who took photos remembered fewer details about the building than those who did not.(lines 13–18)
Interestingly, the effects of camera use on memory can be mixed. In another experiment, a group of people toured a museum exhibition while listening to recorded explanations about the objects on display. Some group members did not have cameras during the tour. Others did, and they were told to take at least ten photos. Afterwards, it was found that the people who took pictures remembered more visual details of the objects they saw. However, they remembered fewer of the explanations.(lines 19–24)
So, will our smartphone camera always distract us from significant aspects of our experiences? According to Miller, not if we use it wisely. "For example, when you're at that café, most of your time should be spent talking to the people you're with and enjoying the food," she advises. "And when you do take pictures, they should be only of the moments you find meaningful. That way, you will have photos that are truly important to you. And you will also enjoy – and better remember – a much fuller experience."(lines 25–30)