The Fast-Fading Present: How Technology, Social Media, and Age Shape Our Perception of Time

By E. Brandon

Time has always been a curious and subjective phenomenon, yet many people today feel that it moves faster than ever before. The decades of the 20th century seemed to have clear cultural identities, but in the 21st century, especially post-2000, everything feels like a rehash of the past. With the exception of artificial intelligence, major technological breakthroughs have been largely absent, and the rapid advancements we do see are primarily in digital realms rather than in transformative, tangible innovations. This phenomenon is closely related to the Chronostasis Effect, which describes how our perception of time shifts as we age.

The Role of Technology and Social Media in Time Perception

One of the most significant factors in the acceleration of perceived time is the way we consume information. The internet and social media have transformed our daily experiences into a continuous, repetitive cycle of content consumption. Unlike earlier decades when entertainment and knowledge acquisition required active participation—reading a book, watching a scheduled television programme, or engaging in long, in-depth conversations—modern technology has shifted us into a passive, reactive mode.

Social media, in particular, exacerbates this phenomenon. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) use sophisticated algorithms to keep users engaged, continuously feeding them content tailored to their interests. This creates an endless loop of scrolling, often leading to “time loss”—a state where hours pass unnoticed because our minds are immersed in short bursts of information that provide little long-term engagement or significance. Unlike previous forms of media that required active engagement, today’s digital content is designed to be consumed in fleeting moments, making it difficult for experiences to stand out as distinct memories.

The Homogenisation of Culture and the Death of Distinct Eras

In past decades, each era had defining cultural and technological advancements that shaped its identity. The 1960s had the counterculture revolution, the 1970s had disco and space-age optimism, the 1980s saw the rise of personal computing and bold fashion trends, and the 1990s brought pop culture shifts such as the rise of hip-hop, the internet boom, and the transition into a digital world. These changes were often driven by technological advancements, shifts in social norms, and new artistic movements.

However, the 21st century has struggled to establish similar cultural milestones. While technology has evolved, much of it builds upon existing frameworks rather than introducing groundbreaking change. Music, fashion, and entertainment often recycle past trends, making it difficult to pinpoint what truly defines the 2010s or 2020s. With instant access to decades of past media, nostalgia has become an industry in itself, leading to a cultural stagnation where originality struggles to emerge. Instead of progressing in clear, distinct phases, culture now feels like an amalgamation of everything that has come before.

The Influence of Age and Memory Creation on Time Perception

While technology plays a significant role in the perception of time speeding up, age is also a major factor. When we are children, every experience is new—our first day of school, our first holiday, our first love. These novel experiences create vivid memories, making time feel slower and more substantial. As we age, routine sets in. The more predictable our lives become, the fewer new experiences we have, and the less our brains actively process each passing day. This ties directly into the Chronostasis Effect, where the brain’s ability to register time slows down when faced with repetitive or familiar experiences.

Neurological studies suggest that the brain encodes new information more deeply, making time feel slower when we are actively learning. As adults, especially in the digital age where entertainment and work often blur together in repetitive cycles, our brains process fewer new events with the same level of depth. The result is that time seems to fly by, with each year blending into the next.

Memory creation has also changed drastically. In the past, we preserved moments through journals, letters, and selective photographs. Now, with smartphones capturing every aspect of our lives, we have an overabundance of digital memories. However, these snapshots often lack emotional weight because they are so numerous and not attached to deeply meaningful events. The sheer volume of recorded moments paradoxically diminishes their significance, leading to a fragmented and less vivid recollection of time.

Information Overload and the Acceleration of Time

Another critical component of why time feels faster now is the overwhelming amount of information we process daily. In the past, people consumed information through structured, finite sources—newspapers, television, and books. Today, we are bombarded with news, notifications, and social media updates 24/7. The more information we consume, the less vividly we experience each moment. Our brains struggle to filter what is important, leading to a blurring of time.

Furthermore, the constant need to keep up with an ever-changing stream of digital content leaves little room for deep reflection. Reflection and contemplation were once crucial parts of how we internalised experiences. In the digital era, the pressure to keep up means we rarely slow down enough to process experiences in a meaningful way. Without distinct markers in our personal timelines, years seem to pass in a blur.

The Lack of Tangible Technological Advancements

Beyond artificial intelligence, the 21st century has seen fewer groundbreaking technological changes compared to previous decades. The 20th century brought automobiles, television, space exploration, and the internet—all transformative innovations that changed the way people lived. In contrast, much of modern technology revolves around refining existing platforms and making incremental improvements rather than introducing revolutionary change.

Smartphones, for instance, have become more advanced, but their fundamental function remains the same as it was in the early 2000s. Virtual reality, while promising, has not yet become mainstream. Space travel is progressing but remains inaccessible to the average person. Without large-scale advancements that redefine daily life, the feeling of progression is dulled, contributing to the sense that time is standing still while paradoxically moving at an accelerated pace.

The Impact of Positive Emotions and Engagement on Time Perception

Research by notable psychologists has shown that our emotional states and levels of engagement significantly impact how we perceive time. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a prominent psychologist at Claremont Graduate University, found that enjoyable experiences can accelerate time perception, while positive emotions can make time feel as though it is passing more quickly. For instance, engaging activities, especially those that evoke awe, can distort our sense of time, often making it seem to pass faster than it actually does. Conversely, when individuals experience awe, time appears to slow down, making them more attuned to the present moment.

Further studies on temporal illusions have demonstrated how novelty can influence time perception. Dartmouth University’s Peter Ulric Tse and colleagues, for example, found that when participants were exposed to a new, unexpected image following a series of repetitive ones, the novel image was perceived to last longer—even though all the images were shown for the same amount of time. This phenomenon, known as the “oddball effect,” suggests that novel stimuli can create a distortion in time perception, causing durations to appear longer than they are.

Additionally, research by Michel Failing and Jan Theeuwes at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam demonstrated how rewards influence time perception. Participants perceived the oddball images as lasting longer when there was a potential reward for correctly identifying them. This shows that the anticipation of rewards can distort our sense of time, making it seem as though seconds or minutes are prolonged when they are tied to potential gain.

Breaking the Cycle: How to Slow Down Time

Although we cannot halt time, we can change how we perceive it. One of the most effective ways to slow time down is by introducing novelty into our lives. Traveling to new places, learning new skills, or engaging in deep, meaningful conversations can create distinct memories that make time feel fuller and more substantial.

Reducing mindless digital consumption is also key. Setting boundaries on social media use, prioritising offline activities, and engaging in mindfulness practices can help counteract the feeling of time slipping away. By consciously choosing activities that require active engagement rather than passive scrolling, we can create richer, more memorable experiences.

The acceleration of time in the modern era is not an illusion—it is a byproduct of digital saturation, cultural stagnation, and the way our brains process routine versus novelty. While technology has connected us in unprecedented ways, it has also diminished our ability to experience time as vividly as previous generations. By making conscious choices to engage more deeply with the world around us, we can reclaim a sense of presence and slow the relentless march of time.

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