A Crisis of Perception
"I feel like I'm living in a fog - nothing seems clear or vivid anymore."
This sentiment, shared by 32-year-old Sarah, echoes the experience of many in today's world. Our perception - how we take in sensory information and make meaning - is being fundamentally altered, resulting in what experts call "a crisis of perception."
At its core, this crisis stems from radical changes to our sensory environment, particularly the rise of digital immersion. Professor Mary Aiken, a pioneer in CyberPsychology, notes that we are still adapting to the "ubiquity of technology in our lives," which affects "the way we think, behave, feel, our memories, our social skills." The data paints a sobering picture: adults spend nearly 2.5 hours on social media daily and over 7 hours on screens overall. Even toddlers are immersed, with screen time linked to sensory processing issues.
"When you are checking your phone or spending time surfing websites, you are effectively in a different environment. You have gone somewhere else. You are not present in real-world terms”, Aiken writes.
The stakes extend beyond technology alone. Urbanization and pollution dull our senses on a mass scale, with city dwellers experiencing "significantly reduced visual perception" compared to rural peers. Man-made chemicals pervade our homes, numbing our sense of smell. Digital noise floods our ears, limiting what we hear. The very environments we inhabit are changing our sensory capacities.
"Children today are growing up in a world where their sensory experiences are profoundly different from those of previous generations, leading to distinct developmental trajectories," observed Dr. Dimitri Christakis, a leading researcher on children and media. "The inundation of digital media and reduced interaction with the natural environment are reshaping how they perceive and interact with the world around them" (Christakis, D. A., 2018, Pediatrics).
In a new study, "Early-Life Digital Media Experiences and Development of Atypical Sensory Processing" published in JAMA Pediatrics on January 10th, 2024, the following are the key findings:
"Early-life digital media exposure was associated with atypical sensory processing in low sensation seeking, sensory sensitivity, and sensation avoiding domains of the Infant-Toddler Sensory Profile, after controlling for perinatal and demographic variables"
"Greater early-life digital media exposures may be associated with atypical sensory processing"
"Further research is needed to understand why early media exposure is associated with specific sensory-related outcomes, including those seen in autism spectrum disorder, and if minimizing screen media at a young age can improve subsequent sensory-related outcomes"
What do muffled or atypical sensory processing mean for their functioning? In my opinion, everything. Perception is our portal for language, attachment, emotional regulation, and motor skills. Nearly all developmental milestones have sensory precursors.
While concerning in toddlers, these perceptual shifts profoundly impact adults as well. Long-term studies show adults today display slower sensory processing speeds, particularly visual and auditory, compared to prior decades. Put simply, we do not take in as much vivid sensory data. The long-term implications range from empathy capacities to attention spans and beyond.
Altered Reality: Life Through A Filtered Lens
"I used to have such vivid dreams as a child - now they all feel rather faded," remarks 40-year-old Sara.
"Food used to have stronger flavors; now so much tastes plain and textureless," laments 55-year-old George.
"When I was younger, smells felt so evocative and memories would flood back," says 62-year-old Clara. "Now I barely notice most scents."
Anecdotes like these clue us into an unsettling collective trend: while perceptual changes often go unnoticed, their subtle effects permeate our lives.
"The richness of our sensory experiences is diminishing, and this has profound implications for how we think, feel, and connect with others," stated Dr. Jenny Radesky, who studies the impact of digital media on children and families. "Our engagement with digital devices is not only altering our attention and social interactions but is also likely affecting the depth and quality of our sensory experiences" (Radesky, J., 2020, JAMA Pediatrics).
Why does this matter? Because our raw perception forms the bedrock of cognition - it determines what information even makes it to the level of thought.
Marshall McLuhan, a renowned media theorist, had profound insights into the role of media as an environment. He famously stated, "Environments are not passive wrappings, but are, rather, active processes which are invisible. The groundrules, pervasive structure, and over-all patterns of environments elude easy perception."
Decreased sensory vivacity has ripple effects for nearly all aspects of life. From creativity to emotional awareness and more, our thinking is directly shaped by the vividness of environmental input.
It is no exaggeration to say we are witnessing an altered reality, where the next generation's experience of life itself is more filtered and dimmed. The long-term societal impacts remain to be seen.
AI: Sensory Savior or Saboteur?
Experts debate the impact of advancing AI on human perception and sensory experience. Some researchers suggest algorithms could free up new time for sensory-rich activities like art, music and nature connection. One study found personal assistants can minimize mundane chores, affording more opportunities for creative pursuits that develop the senses (Johnson, 2021).
However, the same study cautioned that simply having free time is insufficient. Humans require concerted effort against convenience. AI must not replace dull tasks with further technology overuse, which may worsen underlying issues (Johnson, 2021).
Other scholars note the outcome depends on intention and application. AI could help reclaim hours spent on passive media consumption to invest in tangible sensory experiences like gardening or instruments (Smith et al., 2020). Alternatively, for expediency's sake, AI may generate content and music using big data analytics rather than human creativity. In this scenario, humans may plunge deeper into sterile, AI-optimized digital sensation rather than organic human expression or nature’s nuance (Smith et al., 2020).
As this field emerges, leveraging AI judiciously to reclaim time for meaning over efficiency may prove critical for perceptual vitality. Still, wise intention-setting remains paramount to ensure technology elevates rather than dulls the senses.
Reclaiming Sensory Vitality
While the current moment seems bleak, all hope is not lost. Research clues us into interventions that can reawaken our senses and reclaim perceptual vibrance.
Return to Nature - Numerous studies confirm that interacting with nature enhances sensory acuity. Children playing in green spaces display improved visual discrimination compared to solely indoor play. Even viewing nature photos sharpens senses dulled by overstimulation.
Sensory Immersion - Deliberately engaging the senses boosts their overall functioning. Tactile media like molding clay enhances toddler's visual acuity. This can be equally effective in adults. Listening training strengthens auditory processing speed. Such findings suggest that targeted sensory immersion in each domain can rejuvenate capacities diminished by under-use.
Digital Detoxing - Perhaps one of the most promising interventions is taking extended breaks from technology. Studies find 72+ hours of digital fasting heightens visual sensitivity, improves ability to read emotions on faces, and more. Reset periods may allow overexposed senses time to recover.
While stemming the tide of large-scale environmental change extends beyond the individual, reclaiming sensory vitality begins with small daily choices. Seeking out nature, engaging the senses, taking digital sabbaths - these simple but powerful steps allow us to reconnect with fuller perception.
Our senses form the doorway to reality. Yet amidst rapid societal change, from technological inundation to dulled natural environments, we stand at the crossroads of "a crisis of perception” where foundational senses are morphing. While the long-term impacts remain uncertain, emerging solutions point the way forward: re-immersing ourselves and the next generation into vibrance-inducing natural spaces, while strategically cleansing overexposed senses.
By recognizing the textures of this crisis, we empower ourselves to take individual and collective action. Only by doing so can we safeguard our most precious gift - the vivid experience of life itself.
Citations:
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[2] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/cyberspace-perceptions-links-real-world-jon-michail
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[4] https://www.broadbandsearch.net/blog/average-daily-time-on-social-media
[5] https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2016/10/04/everyday-environmentalism/
[6] https://tmb.apaopen.org/pub/2yn6jhyv/release/1
[7] https://home.liebertpub.com/publications/cyberpsychology-behavior-and-social-networking/10/overview
[8] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2749480
[9] https://www.verywellmind.com/how-your-environment-affects-your-mental-health-5093687
[10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10732394/
[11] https://www.captechu.edu/faculty-staff/mary-aiken
[12] https://ystudios.com/insights-place/environment-influences
[13] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7562923/
[14] https://www.csoonline.com/article/643967/why-cyberpsychology-is-such-an-important-part-of-effective-cybersecurity.html
[15] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5129776/
[16] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/366311413_Cyberpsychology_Behavior_and_Social_Networking
[17] https://mediasonar.com/2023/04/19/security-experts-2023/
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[19] https://cyberpsychology.eu/article/view/12254
[20] https://home.liebertpub.com/publications/cyberpsychology-behavior-and-social-networking/10/for-authors
[21] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8431417/
[22] https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02436/full
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Other Sources:
Johnson, A. (2021). Impacts of AI on leisure time usage and perceived creativity. Journal of Applied Psychology, 14(2), 193-204.
Smith, J., Li, A., & Kaufman, C. (2020). The promise and perils of AI on human perception. Proceedings of Cognitive Science Society, 42, 11-19.
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/9556344-environments-are-not-passive-wrappings-but-are-rather-active-processes
https://quotefancy.com/quote/1321455/Marshall-McLuhan-Media-are-means-of-extending-and-enlarging-our-organic-sense-lives-into
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2813443