Why we — literally — lose time on social media

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.