Authors: Ye Xin (Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Journalism, Fudan University, Associate Professor, School of Journalism and Communication, Zhejiang University of Media and Communication); Wu Fei (Director of the Center for International Communication Research, Zhejiang University, Deputy Director of the Faculty of Humanities, Zhejiang University, and Professor of the School of Media and International Culture, Zhejiang University).
*: Young Journalists, Issue 14, 2023.
Summary: This study elaborates on the important impact of time perception on individual thinking, decision-making, and behavior, and media such as social networking**, virtual reality, and AI chatbots also have a significant impact on time perception.
Time perception plays a crucial role in personal life and social interactions. By perceiving the passage of time, people are able to plan for the future, evaluate experiences, and understand the concept of time accordingly. Time perception not only affects an individual's emotional experience and thought process, but also has a profound impact on behavior regulation, decision-making, and life satisfaction. Time perception is an important part of how we understand and interpret our personal experience. Our lives are made up of continuous slices of time, and our perception of the passage of time influences our behavior, decisions, and feelings.
From a psychological point of view, time perception is essential for an individual's mental health and behavioral regulation. People's perception and interpretation of time can affect their mental state, such as feelings of stress, satisfaction, and well-being. Time perception also plays a key role in decision-making. The perception of time influences how we weigh immediate rewards against long-term benefits, which is an important topic in economics and management. Time perception also plays an important role in social interactions. People need to synchronize their actions to meet societal norms and expectations, which requires a precise perception of time. In addition, time perception is also of great significance for individual behavior regulation and goal achievement. Individuals' time perception affects the way they perceive and utilize time resources. Good time perception can help individuals develop reasonable time management strategies, help them improve work efficiency, optimize the decision-making process, and enhance their sense of control over time. Conversely, a lack or imbalance in time perception can lead to wasted time, procrastination behavior, and difficulty in achieving goals.
Media time is concerned with how the medium affects people's perception and understanding of time. Academic research in this field is rich and diverse. Innes was one of the pioneers in studying how media affect society and culture. He argues that there is a temporal bias in media, which emphasizes the lasting impact of media on history, and a spatial bias, which focuses on how media alter the perception of geography and space[1]. McLuhan's notion further developed Innes's view, which argues that "the medium is the message", emphasizing the profound impact of the medium itself, rather than its content, on society and human perception [2]. Williams developed the concept of "fluidity", describing how television programs form a continuous flow that changes our perception of time [3]. Levinson explores how digital has changed our perception of time, especially how the internet and social networking have created so-called "real time" communication [4]. Lashkov shows how we feel the "shock of the present" in the digital age, a feeling of being overwhelmed by a myriad of instant information, which reflects our new understanding of time and the new challenges we face [5].
Therefore, a deep understanding of time perception is essential for an individual's mental health, behavioral performance, and quality of life. From the perspective of communication, this paper deeply explores the mechanism and influencing factors of time perception, such as social networking, virtual reality, AI chatbots, and other topics related to time perception, and considers its impact on people's thinking, decision-making, behavior, and social interaction.
Social** and time awareness.
Wittkaul points out that socialization allows us to view and share memories of the past at any point in time, and at the same time, it also pulls us towards an eternal "now", a phenomenon he calls "time flattening" [6]. Turker examines how socializing can change our understanding of "now" and "interaction." She argues that socialization creates a culture of "forever" that makes us always expect an immediate response, thus stressing our perception of time [7]. Van Dijk provides a detailed historical critique of sociality, focusing on how socialization changes our perception of time and space, and he argues that socialization has changed people's perception of time and plunges us into the "eternal present" [8]. Humphreys focuses primarily on how socialization influences our ability to record and understand everyday life. He found that through socializing**, we recorded and shared moments of our lives more frequently, which increased our focus on the present while also changing the way we recall the past [9]. All of this literature provides insight into how socialization changes our perception of time.
a) How socialization changes our perception of time.
Socializing has profoundly changed our perception of time. First, the "immediacy" of social** leads to a change in our perception of time. We expect instant responses, instant information updates, and this anticipation and satisfaction of immediacy accelerates our time perception and makes us feel that time passes faster [10]. This is in stark contrast to the traditional form of written or face-to-face communication, which often requires longer waiting and reaction times.
Secondly, the phenomenon of "eternal now" of social networking also affects our perception of time. On social networking, old and new information exists at the same time, and the information that is updated and exchanged is continuous. This confuses the past, present, and future socially, causing the disappearance of the continuous sense of time and putting people in a state of "eternal present" [11]. However, this confusion does not mean that we have lost our understanding or perception of time. On the contrary, we may be adapting to a new way of understanding time that places more emphasis on the fluidity and dynamics of time rather than a static, linear chronological sequence [12]. In this process, we need to develop new time management and adjustment strategies to adapt to changing time-aware patterns and environments.
Finally, the use of social ** can also lead to the phenomenon of "time warp". Overuse of social** can surprise people at the amount of time actually spent. People tend to underestimate the amount of time they spend socializing because the attraction and engagement of socializing makes people forget about time [13]. One of the things that people often experience when using social media is a time warp or sense of time distortion. This is because when people are fully engaged in an activity (such as using social **), they tend to ignore the passage of time and thus underestimate the actual time they spend on that activity. This phenomenon is known in psychology as "flow experience" [14].
2) The difference between social** and real-time perception.
In the social environment, however, the rules of time perception have changed significantly. First of all, social networking is no longer limited by natural time, it provides a 24-hour continuous flow of information, and users can access new information at any time, which breaks the definition of activity in natural time [15]. Secondly, social** has also changed our perception of social time. Social media provides a real-time communication platform where users can post and access information at any time, which allows us to live in a seemingly "eternal now" state [16].
In addition, the design of social ** also reinforces this change in time perception. Many social networks employ algorithms to push messages, often not chronologically, but based on the user's behavior and preferences. This makes social** time more like a non-linear, personalized time, rather than the linear, homogeneous time we experience in the physical world [17].
As a result, socialization has largely changed our perception of time, making it more personalized, fragmented, and more "now". This change not only affects our information consumption behavior, but may also affect our perception and control of the pace of life [18].
iii) An example of the impact of socialization on time perception.
The effect of social interaction on time perception can be observed in a variety of contexts, for which we used a time perception questionnaire, and the author sent a questionnaire to 232 college students, and came to the following conclusions.
1.Time Perception and Technology Use: The majority of respondents (81.)4%) ignore the passage of time when using technology, which may be related to the "streaming experience".
2.Technology Use vs. Self-Control: While the majority of respondents (66.)5%) consider themselves to be more self-controlled, but they tend to ignore the passage of time when using technology. This may be related to the theory of self-control, which states that people may have a decrease in their self-control when confronted with ** (such as attractive technology), causing them to neglect other important tasks.
3.Time anxiety and personality traits: Some respondents (139%) often feel anxious about time, which may affect their time perception and technology use behavior.
Table 1: Questions and results of time-aware in-depth interviews.
The author used in-depth interviews to further analyze and interpret the results of the questionnaire, and conducted a survey on the use of WeChat and Weibo among 13 interviewed college students, and the results obtained are basically shown in Table 1. The author believes that social platforms such as WeChat and Weibo have changed people's perception of time to a certain extent and have had an impact on people's time management and behavior.
Virtual Reality and Time Perception.
Virtual reality, as a new form of media, has a unique impact on the perception of time. Virtual reality technology can create immersive experiences that make users feel as if they are in a virtual environment. This sense of immersion leads to a series of changes in the perception of time.
a) How virtual reality is changing our perception of time.
First, time loses its meaning and manipulates time. Time perception in virtual reality may affect people's understanding of time in reality. In virtual environments, the passage of time is often out of sync with time in the real world, which can make people's perception of time more blurred. In addition, virtual reality technology can also allow users to manipulate time, further changing people's perception of time [19].
Secondly, the experience of time dilation and time compression. The sense of immersion in virtual reality can make people feel time dilated or time compressed. When people have an immersive experience in a virtual reality environment, they may lose their sense of the passage of time and feel like time has become relatively long. Conversely, when people are immersed in exciting or highly entertaining virtual scenes, they may feel that time passes faster [20]. This change in time perception may affect people's assessment of the duration of the experience and the use of time.
2) The difference between virtual reality and real time perception.
First, the flexibility of time experience. Time perception in virtual reality can be more flexible and resilient. In reality, the passage of time is irreversible and we cannot change or control it. However, in virtual reality, the user can control the time lapse of the experience through functions such as pause, fast forward, or replay, which gives the user the ability to actively manipulate time [21]. This experience of time is one of the significant differences between virtual reality time and real time experience.
Second, changes in time perception. Virtual reality environments can change people's perception of time. In virtual reality, users can experience an immersive experience where they feel the passage of time be different from the real world. Studies have shown that when people are immersed in exciting or highly entertaining virtual scenes, they may feel that time passes faster [22]. The immersion of virtual reality can easily make people forget the passage of time in the real world, and the increased perceptual load can distract people and change their perception of time.
Third, time compression and expansion. Virtual reality can create a sense of time compression or expansion. By simulating different scenarios and experiences, virtual reality allows users to experience a rich experience in a short period of time, making time feel compressed. Whereas, when users are immersed in an immersive virtual environment, they may feel that time slows down or expands because they are more sensitive to details in the environment and feel that events occur and last longer [23].
iii) An example of the impact of virtual reality on time perception.
First of all, the control of the passage of time. Virtual reality can affect people's perception of time in ways that manipulate the passage of time. This sense of control over the passage of time gives the user the ability to actively manipulate time, further altering their perception of time.
Second, the subjectivity of temporal experience. Time perception in virtual reality is highly subjective. Different individuals may have different assessments of time perception in the same virtual experience. This subjectivity may be influenced by an individual's psychological state, emotional experience, and goal orientation [24]. Therefore, people's perception of time in virtual reality is a highly individualized and context-dependent process.
AI chatbots with time awareness.
The advent of AI chatbots has changed the way we perceive time, bringing a more immediate, flexible, and efficient communication experience. However, we need to use AI chatbots in moderation, understand their limitations, and ensure that we are able to manage our time autonomously.
a) How AI chatbots are changing our perception of time.
First, the expectation of immediacy response. The quick response and real-time interactivity of AI chatbots has changed our perception of time. Compared to traditional communication methods, AI chatbots are able to respond to users' messages immediately, making communication more instantaneous. This can lead to a change in the user's perception of time, with a greater focus on the "now" feedback and speed of response.
Second, there is no time limit for interactions. The virtual nature of AI chatbots makes interactions unconstrained by time and space. Users can have a conversation with the bot at any time. This flexibility changes our perception of time, making communication and exchange no longer limited by time, creating a "time without boundaries" experience.
Thirdly, the improvement of time efficiency. The intelligent algorithms and automation capabilities of AI chatbots make information processing and task execution more efficient. They can quickly provide accurate information and solve problems in a short period of time, saving users time and effort. This increase in time efficiency may make users feel that time flies faster because they are able to accomplish more tasks and get the information they need in less time.
Finally, virtual presence and time perception. Unlike real face-to-face communication, interaction with AI chatbots takes place through a virtual interface. This virtual presence may affect our perception of time. Some studies have pointed out that when interacting with the virtual**, people may perceive a faster passage of time, possibly because the non-real nature of virtual existence compresses the perception of time [25].
2) The difference between AI chatbots and real-world time perception.
First, the virtual nature and time limit. AI chatbot interactions take place through virtual interfaces, rather than real face-to-face interactions. This virtual nature makes it possible to interact with the robot without being limited by time and space, and users can have a conversation with the robot at any time and place. Compared with real-world time perception, AI chatbot interactions are more flexible and time-resilient.
Second, information processing speed and time perception. AI chatbots are fast in processing and providing information. They can provide accurate answers and solve problems in a short period of time, saving users time. This efficient information processing may alter users' perception of time, making them feel that time passes faster because they are able to obtain the information they need in less time [26].
Third, user autonomy and time utilization. Interactions with AI chatbots may make it easier for users to get stuck in time than real-world time perception. Due to the virtual nature and convenience of bots, users may spend more time interacting with bots and neglecting other important ways to spend their time. This relationship between autonomy and time may affect the user's perception of time and the evaluation of time utilization [27].
iii) An example of the impact of AI chatbots on time perception.
First, time expansion. The AI chatbot's instant response and non-real-world time constraints allow users to communicate with the bot at their own convenience, further changing their perception of time. For example, across time zones, users can communicate in real-time with bots located in different regions, eliminating the time factor that would be considered for traditional face-to-face interactions.
Second, time elasticity. Interaction with AI chatbots is more resilient than face-to-face communication. Users can start, pause, or resume a conversation with the bot at any time, regardless of time. This time flexibility allows users to manage and schedule their time more freely, interacting with bots according to their needs and interests [28].
Again, time efficiency. The high efficiency and automated processing power of AI chatbots can reduce the time it takes for users to obtain information and solve problems. Bots can provide accurate answers and guidance in a short period of time, saving users time in finding answers and solving problems. This increase in time efficiency can change users' perception of time, making them feel like time passes faster because they are able to complete tasks and get the information they need in less time [29].
Finally, the illusion of time. There may be an illusion of time in interactions with AI chatbots. Due to the bot's rapid response and continuous interaction, users may feel that time passes faster or even lose their accurate perception of time. This illusion of time can lead to inappropriate allocation of time and bias in time perception.
Conclusions and discussions.
Media has had a profound impact on the perception of time, changing the way we perceive and utilize it. Time perception has an important impact on an individual's thinking, decision-making and behavior, affecting the individual's psychological state, behavior control and social behavior. Therefore, we need to pay attention to and study the influence of media on time perception and adapt to these changes in order to better manage and utilize time and improve the quality of personal life and work efficiency.
With the continuous development of technology and the continuous change of media forms, the influence of media on time perception has become a field worthy of in-depth research. Future research can explore the following aspects to further understand the impact of media on time perception.
1) We can pay attention to the different effects of different media forms on the perception of time.
Different forms of media, such as social**, virtual reality, AI chatbots, etc., may change our perception of time in different ways. Research can compare the differences in time perception between different forms of media, as well as the mechanisms and reasons for the differences.
2) Time patterns and time management strategies for media use can be explored.
Different media usage habits and time management strategies may affect an individual's time perception and time utilization. Research can investigate how people allocate time, time planning strategies, and time priorities when using different media, and the impact of these factors on individual time perception and behavior.
3) Attention can be paid to the shaping of the concept and consciousness of time by the use of media.
The use of media may have an impact on an individual's perception of time and awareness of time, including the evaluation of time, the values of time, and the feeling of pressure of time. Research can explore the relationship between media use and individual perceptions of time, and further influence this relationship on individual behavior and decision-making.
4) Pay attention to the differences in the impact of media on the time perception of different groups of people.
Different populations may have different sensitivities and responses to the medium's perception of time. Research can explore the differences in media use and time perception among people of different ages, genders, and cultural backgrounds, as well as the reasons and mechanisms for these differences.
Through future research on the influence of media on time perception, we can deeply understand the mechanism of media on individual time perception, reveal the influencing factors of media in time management and behavioral decision-making, and provide more scientific and effective guidance and suggestions for the design and use of media. Such research will help us better cope with the challenges of time in the digital age, optimize the use of time, and improve the quality of life and work efficiency of individuals.
This paper is the phased achievement of the Zhejiang Provincial Philosophy and Social Planning Project "Research on the Ideological Mirror Representation of Internet News Event Buzzwords" and the National Social Science Major Project "Research on the Innovation of News Theory Paradigm in the Internet Environment" (Grant No.: 21&ZD318).
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This article refers to the citation format:
Ye Xin, Wu Fei. The influence of media technology on individual time perception and coping strategies[J].Young Journalists, 2023(14): 13-16+20