Social Media and Working Memory - A Review

Abstract

Social media is a part of daily today life which is growing more and more widespread. Many individuals have mobile phones and often use social media. This review paper explores the impact of social media on working memory, a critical cognitive function. It discusses the widespread use of social media, its emotional influence, and its potential effects on cognitive processes. It highlights factors contributing to this complex relationship, including the type of engagement and platform design. Research indicates that using social media expands the possibility of becoming addicted. Excessive social media usage affects emotional well-being by strengthening negative feelings such as fear of missing out, melancholy, increased loneliness, anger, irritation, and anxiety. According to earlier research, the subject of whether using social media negatively affects our working memory has been raised. They cause numerous issues in our daily lives while they do the task. This literature review’s data came from a comprehensive database search of relevant previously published articles. A total of 25 papers were extracted from databases of which 10 were found relevant and hence chosen to be part of this review. The review revealed that online social media has a high potential to affect the cognitive functioning ‘working memory’ of people who spend their time on online social media platforms. The paper proposes interventions such as cognitive training, mindfulness practices, and digital detox programs to counter potential negative effects. Overall, it emphasizes the need for ongoing interdisciplinary research to better understand and address the interaction between social media and cognitive functions.