Warning: People Born After 1995 Are Living In 'Ghost Time' (Terrifying Discovery)

Summary

This video explores how smartphones are altering our perception of time. Neuroscientists reveal that fragmented attention caused by constant notifications and scrolling prevents the brain from forming clear memories, making time spent on phones feel like it never truly happened. This phenomenon, called temporal fragmentation, is changing how younger generations experience time, leading to a rise in ADHD, anxiety, and memory issues. However, the video offers hope, suggesting that by creating structured 'temporal bookends' for phone use, we can regain control over our time and experience a more fulfilling, present life.

Takeaways

• 😀 Phones cause your brain to process time differently than real life, leading to a sense of time distortion.
• 😀 Many people struggle to remember what they did during their phone time because it fragments attention and memory.
• 😀 Traditional theories of time perception suggested time feels fast when we’re entertained and slow when we’re bored, but phone time challenges this.
• 😀 Neuroscientists discovered that phones create ‘temporal fragmentation,’ which prevents your brain from fully processing moments.
• 😀 The brain processes time by stringing together distinct memories, but phone usage results in partial, unformed memories.
• 😀 The average person switches their attention every 6 to 8 seconds on their phone, far less than the 23 seconds it takes to fully process information.
• 😀 Phones are responsible for creating a new type of attention—fragmented processing—that causes time to feel unreal and unmemorable.
• 😀 Research suggests that smartphones are contributing to rising mental health issues like ADHD, anxiety, and memory problems in young people.
• 😀 Kids born after 2010 are growing up with fragmented attention as their default, which is altering the development of their brains.
• 😀 Although phone time fragments attention, you can reclaim your memory and time by setting clear boundaries for your phone use, creating ‘temporal bookends’ to allow for better processing.
• 😀 By using your phone more intentionally, you can start to feel more present in your life and create richer, more memorable experiences.

Q & A

What is the main claim made in the video about how phone time is processed by the brain?

The video claims that phone time is processed by the brain in a fundamentally different way compared to other activities. Instead of creating clear, distinct memories, phone use fragments attention, causing the brain to process time in a disjointed, fragmented manner, leading to a distorted perception of time.

Why do hours spent on the phone seem to feel shorter than they actually are?

The brain processes phone time differently because of constant interruptions, such as notifications and new content, that fragment attention. This constant switching of focus prevents the brain from forming complete memories, making the time feel like it passes quickly and becomes hard to recall.

What is 'temporal fragmentation' and how does it relate to phone use?

Temporal fragmentation refers to the brain's inability to fully process and store experiences when attention is continuously broken into smaller pieces. On a phone, the brain switches focus every few seconds due to notifications and new information, preventing the creation of clear memories.

How do the experiences of younger generations differ from older generations in terms of time perception?

Younger generations, especially those born after 2010, are growing up with fragmented attention as their default state due to constant phone use. This leads to different brain development and challenges like rising ADHD diagnoses, anxiety, and memory issues, compared to older generations who processed time more traditionally.

What is the significance of 'temporal bookends' and how can they help improve time perception?

Temporal bookends are specific, defined start and stop points for activities, which allow the brain to fully process and form memories. By using them, you can counteract the fragmentation caused by phone use, making your time feel more normal, rich, and memorable.

What was the previous understanding of how the brain processes time, and how has that changed?

Previously, scientists believed that time was processed simply based on interest—time flies when you're engaged, and it drags when you're bored. However, new research has shown that phones create a completely new form of time processing that leads to fragmented attention and distorted time perception.

How does phone use lead to memory issues and difficulty focusing?

Phone use fragments attention by constantly interrupting the brain’s natural process of forming memories. As a result, the brain struggles to engage deeply with experiences, leading to memory issues and difficulties in maintaining focus, as the brain never completes its processing cycles.

Why do people in their 20s and 30s feel like time is speeding up, and how is this related to phone use?

The perception that time is speeding up in people in their 20s and 30s is linked to their constant exposure to fragmented attention from phone use. This alteration in time perception is now being seen at younger ages, whereas it used to be more associated with aging.

What is the relationship between phone use and the increase in ADHD diagnoses?

The rise in ADHD diagnoses is closely tied to the widespread use of smartphones. The constant fragmentation of attention caused by notifications and other distractions on phones is believed to contribute to difficulties in sustained focus and attention, symptoms commonly associated with ADHD.

What is the 'good news' mentioned in the video, and how can we reclaim our time?

The good news is that our brains still have the ability to process time normally; the mechanisms are just overwhelmed by fragmentation. By using phones in a more focused and intentional way, such as through temporal bookends, we can reclaim our time and begin to experience life in a more meaningful and memorable way.