2025-2026

Investigating the Differences in Visual and Auditory Short-Term Memory from Brief Social Media Usage 

Mentor: Dr. Ian McDonough - Binghamton University

Project Overview: I investigated the impact social media has on visual and auditory short-term memory, including how they are impacted differently and how the emotional component of these videos alter memory. I hypothesized that social media would have a negative effect on memory, impacting auditory short-term memory more than visual short-term memory. For my second hypothesis, I hypothesized that participants would have better short-term memory after viewing more self-reported positive video content. Working with my mentor, we aimed to understand the potential effects of social media within this growing digital media age. I hoped to discover how these apps influence cognition and how different cognitive processes work together, especially in relation to potential distractors.