The Science of Forgetting: Why We're Already Losing Our Pandemic Memories and the Persistence of Pinterest

The Science of Forgetting: Why We're Already Losing Our Pandemic Memories and the Persistence of Pinterest

In the realm of memory, forgetting is the default setting of our brains. According to Norman Brown, a cognitive psychology professor, everyone forgets everything all the time. It is a basic assumption that we can make. Our brains have a three-phase process for memory: encoding, consolidation, and retrieval. When we encounter new information, our brains encode it through changes in neurons, particularly in the hippocampus. These changes create a physical memory trace known as an engram. However, much of this information is lost unless it goes through memory consolidation, often occurring during sleep, which makes memories more stable and long-term.

During memory retrieval, the memory trace neurons in the hippocampus and cortex are reactivated. Our memories revolve around our life stories and the events that had the greatest impact on us personally. However, the more memories we accumulate, the more challenging it becomes to capture and retain them all. New memories interfere with older ones, making them harder to recall. Additionally, when events are uniform, they blend together into one indistinct memory. This phenomenon may result in unclear memories of specific years, such as those during the pandemic.

Interestingly, as a society, many people do not want to hold onto their memories of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Rajaram, people tend to view the future more positively than the past. Our future-oriented positivity bias stems from the fact that we can imagine different possibilities for the future, while the past remains fixed. Remembering the past is a subjective experience influenced by our current emotions, knowledge, and attitudes. This reality has direct implications for how we look back on the pandemic and navigate the future.

In order for our autobiographical memories to become a part of history, they need to be woven into the fabric of society. While parents pass down their knowledge and family history to offspring, these communicative memories only last for a few generations. Without cultural artifacts like books, movies, statues, and museums, memories of the pandemic may fade away into the entropic dustbin of history.

Now, let's shift gears and explore the persistence of Pinterest. Ben Silbermann, the co-founder of Pinterest, exemplifies the importance of perseverance and passion. Despite the slow initial growth of Pinterest, Silbermann never gave up on the startup. His love for collecting things, which he saw as an extension of his identity, drove him to continue working on the platform. Pinterest was designed to enable people to continue their collections online, catering to a fundamental human desire.

Even when Pinterest had less than 10,000 users after nine months, Silbermann refused to abandon the project. He personally reached out to the first 5,000 users, forging personal connections and demonstrating a commitment to the platform's growth. This hands-on approach, doing things that don't scale, proved crucial in keeping Pinterest alive during its early stages. Silbermann's dedication and refusal to give up were fueled by the fear of admitting failure and the embarrassment of having to tell others about it.

Silbermann's perspective on the world as a series of people's collections translated into Pinterest's grid-like design. However, the platform faced resistance initially, as most people were consumed by real-time feeds and text-based content. Despite this, Pinterest gradually gained traction, but it was far from an overnight success. There was no single actor or event that propelled Pinterest into the mainstream. It was the early adopters, those who used the platform as intended, that played a vital role in keeping Pinterest alive.

Combining these two seemingly unrelated topics reveals a common thread: the human desire to collect and remember. While our memories of the pandemic may fade over time, platforms like Pinterest offer a digital space for individuals to curate and express their identities through collections. Both the science of forgetting and the persistence of Pinterest teach us valuable lessons.

Actionable Advice:

1. Embrace the process of memory consolidation: Ensure that important memories are stored during sleep, allowing them to become more stable and long-lasting.
2. Do things that don't scale: Just like Silbermann personally reached out to the first users of Pinterest, prioritize building personal connections and going the extra mile, even if it doesn't seem scalable initially.
3. Create a digital legacy: Utilize platforms like Pinterest to curate and document your collections and memories, ensuring they are preserved for future generations.

In conclusion, the science of forgetting and the persistence of Pinterest demonstrate the intricacies of human memory and the power of passion and perseverance. While our memories may inevitably fade, the desire to collect and remember continues to shape our identities and the way we navigate the world. By understanding the workings of memory and leveraging digital platforms, we can preserve our personal histories and connect with others on a deeper level.