Easy come, Easy Go? Experiment Designed to Examine Digital Amnesia

This study examines the phenomenon of “digital amnesia”, a growing concern in the digital age where individuals increasingly rely on external devices for information storage and retrieval, potentially leading to decreased reliance on internal memory and memory lapses. The research employs an experimental design to investigate the impact of easy access to information on memory retention. Participants consisting of 18–20-year-old Chinese college students in Beijing are divided into two groups: a control group relying solely on internal memory and an experimental group utilizing digital devices for information management. Both groups will read a short article and complete a memory test. Following the experiment, semi-structured interviews will be conducted to explore participants’ perspectives on memory retention and digital amnesia. The study hypothesizes that easy access to information through digital devices will negatively impact memory retention. This research aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the cognitive consequences of digital amnesia, exploring its potential impact on memory formation and knowledge production in the contemporary digital era. Findings from this study could have implications for educators, policymakers, and individuals seeking to optimize learning strategies in a technologically-driven world.