The Science of Forgetting and the Overlooked Levels of the Creator Economy: Why We're Losing Pandemic Memories and How Creators Can Level Up

Kazuki

Hatched by Kazuki

Aug 02, 2023

5 min read

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The Science of Forgetting and the Overlooked Levels of the Creator Economy: Why We're Losing Pandemic Memories and How Creators Can Level Up

In our fast-paced world, we are constantly bombarded with an overwhelming amount of information. From the moment we wake up until we go to bed, our brains are working tirelessly to process and store memories. However, the default is forgetting. According to Norman Brown, a cognitive psychology professor, "everybody forgets everything all the time." This raises the question: why are we already losing our pandemic memories?

Memory is a complex process that involves three interrelated phases: encoding, consolidation, and retrieval of information. When we encounter new information, our brains encode it by making changes in neurons in the hippocampus, an important memory center. These changes create a physical memory trace known as an engram. However, much of this information is lost unless it is stored during memory consolidation, which often happens during sleep. This process makes memories more stable and long-term.

One theory is that the hippocampus stores an index of where these cortical memory neurons are for retrieval, similar to a Google search. During memory retrieval, the memory trace neurons in the hippocampus and cortex are reactivated. Our memories are centered around our life stories and the events that affected us personally the most. However, even for salient emotional and life-threatening events, the more we experience, the more difficulty we have capturing all of them. New memories from simply living more life interfere with memories of older events. This is because new events are more salient and easier to remember since we are more likely to talk about them and "rehearse" them.

Another factor that contributes to our forgetting pandemic memories is the fact that memories become harder to recall when events are uniform. "The memory sort of puts it together as almost one event," says a researcher. This means that the specific years of the pandemic may be unclear in our memories due to the uniformity of the events.

Interestingly, as a society, many people don't want to hold onto their COVID memories. This is because people tend to view the future more positively than the past. Remembering the past is something we do in the present, with all our current emotions, knowledge, and attitudes. This future-oriented positivity bias affects how we look back on the pandemic and how we navigate the future.

Now, let's shift gears and explore the overlooked levels of the creator economy. The creator economy has its own levels that require creators and companies to match each other's needs for the most effective outcomes. Understanding these levels is crucial for both creators and the platforms that support them.

Level 1: Hobbyists are individuals who create content for fun or on the side. They often struggle with time and financial constraints, as well as the lack of distribution and marketing. These creators may also find it challenging to reach a certain level of production value or quality content.

Level 2: Full-time creators are those who can support themselves with their creative work. However, they may lack experience in running a business, which takes away from their creative endeavors. Additionally, they may struggle with limited time and resources to market their work effectively.

Level 3: Stars are creators who can form partnerships with external brands, such as media companies, record labels, and publishers, to maximize their reach. Their main pain point is figuring out how to leverage their brand into business and financial success.

Level 4: Moguls are the creators who build businesses that outlive themselves. They have the ability to take control of their own livelihood and forge a business independently, without relying on mainstream labels or publishers.

To truly support creators in leveling up, platforms and tools need to consider the specific pain points of each level. Understanding the target demographic and addressing their needs is crucial for success. The most effective creator platforms have a deep understanding of their user base and a laser-focus on addressing those pain points and needs. The key is to help creators get better at creating and building their business.

In conclusion, the science of forgetting sheds light on why we're already losing our pandemic memories. The default mode of our brains is to forget, and various factors such as the interference of new memories and the uniformity of events contribute to this phenomenon. On the other hand, the overlooked levels of the creator economy highlight the different stages creators go through in their journey towards success. By understanding these levels and addressing the specific pain points, platforms can better support creators in their growth.

Actionable Advice:

  • 1. Create opportunities for memory consolidation: Prioritize quality sleep and downtime to allow your brain to consolidate and store memories effectively. This can help prevent the loss of important experiences and events.
  • 2. Embrace diversity in your memories: Actively engage in a variety of experiences and events to create a more diverse memory bank. By exposing yourself to different stimuli, you can enhance your overall memory recall.
  • 3. Invest in your creative business: If you're a creator looking to level up, invest time and resources in learning the business side of your craft. Develop a marketing strategy, seek partnerships with relevant brands, and build a sustainable business model that outlives your own involvement.

Remember, memories are a crucial part of our personal and collective history. By understanding the science of forgetting and the levels of the creator economy, we can better navigate the complexities of memory and support creators in reaching their full potential.

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