Auditory Regression and New Soundscapes: The Digital Intimacies of ASMR

In recent years, ASMR has emerged as a distinct sensory phenomenon, garnering attention from both academic and lay audiences. ASMR videos, distinguished by their unique auditory and visual elements, elicit a sense of pleasure and relaxation in viewers, and have amassed a significant global following. This paper explores the decline of visual hegemony and the rise of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) in the context of the renewed interest in hearing, with the discussion centered around four key aspects, namely the role of ASMR as a trigger for digital intimacy, the foundation upon which it is constructed, the relationship between the creators and consumers of ASMR, and the unique connection between these two groups. In addition, the unique context of shared experiences and interactions in ASMR is explored in depth, emphasizing the interplay between human emotions, perceptions, and digital media technologies in audiovisual communication. New modes of sound propagation in evolving spatiotemporal landscapes are analyzed, providing insights into the construction of novel soundscapes for ASMR in the digital age. Through its emotional and spatial properties, ASMR has become a cross-modal sensory experience that explores new possibilities for interactive experiences in audiovisual media by incorporating richer perceptual systems and triggering mechanisms into the future of media pervasive perception. As a result, bloggers and audiences grow together and support each other in a digital intimacy typified by directionality, emotional imbalance, and high returns due to its potentially large realizable value.