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ScienceGlobal issues

Why we — literally — lose time on social media

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June 24, 2026

A Munich University study shows that scrolling on social media changes our sense of time. We think we've been doing it for far less time than we actually have.

Digital media are reshaping our sense of time - that's according to research at Munich’s Ludwig Maximilian University. Scientists show that people spend an average of six hours and 40 minutes per day on screens. The often fast-paced, emotionally-charged content alters our perception of time. Experiments using eye-tracking and EEG reveal that interactive, social-media-like use leads to a significant underestimation of time passing - as much as almost 60 percent. Researchers say the brain processes digital content differently, compressing experiences into vague memories. Experts warn this can create a sense of "lost time,” - with users seeking escapism, but instead losing track of real-world time.

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