Taking a screenshot or photo to save information has become an integral part of our daily lives. However, according to a new study by psychologists at Binghamton University, this practice actually contributes to forgetting information instead. Published in the journal Memory & Cognition, the paper reveals the hidden mechanisms of memory impairment often referred to as “digital amnesia.“
The study’s authors explain that capturing an event or information on a screen harms our memory—a phenomenon scientists call the “photo-taking impairment effect.” While reviewing captured material later helps with retention, statistics show that the average person takes about 20 photos a day and stores up to 2,000 images on their smartphone, most of which are never looked at again. Psychologists note that unless we actively use these images to stimulate memory, the act of taking them only works to our detriment.
Researchers conducted 7 different experiments and identified several mechanisms behind digital amnesia. One is “cognitive offloading”—when the brain stops spending resources to memorize information it knows is safely stored on an external device. However, the most notable cause identified is “attentional disengagement.“
Scientists concluded that the physical act of taking a screenshot or photo subconsciously forces us to disengage from the ongoing experience. As a result, we forget not only specific details but also the general context of the event (for example, study participants could not recall which part of the museum they saw a particular painting in after photographing it).
What is the best alternative? Researchers advise returning to the traditional method: pen and paper. Writing information down by hand (such as taking notes during a lecture) forces the brain to process, filter, and find logical connections within the material. In cognitive psychology, this is known as a “desirable difficulty”—a mental effort that significantly increases the chances of retention.
Ultimately, taking screenshots only aids memory if done intentionally (in small amounts) and if the material is actually reviewed later. Otherwise, a constant buildup of screenshots produces the exact opposite effect.
