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, which records the brain's electrical activity, reveal that interactive, social-media-like use leads to a significant underestimation of time passing — nearly 60%. 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.