Psychology
Social Media and Collective Memory Formation
Quick fact
Social media has transformed collective memory from a 'top-down' process (controlled by governments or media moguls) into a 'bottom-up' process, where hashtags like MeToo or BlackLivesMatter allow millions of users to co-create a living, evolving memory of social movements, often in real time.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever wondered why some events are remembered by everyone while others fade away? On social media, the power to shape what we collectively remember has shifted from institutions to algorithms and users.