Speeded-up media consumption spreads across formats

Fast-forward is no longer just for skipping ads. The practice of speeded-up media consumption is become increasingly prominent across many different kinds of media.

Nicholas Quah, a critic with New York Magazine and Vulture, has publicly advocated for accelerating the playback of not just podcasts but virtually all forms of media. This trend, while contentious to some, aligns with evolving cognitive habits and technological conveniences.

Podcasts have seen a notable shift in listening speeds. Data from Audible reveals that around five per cent of its users engage content at 1.5 times the normal speed or faster, with 1.25 times being the most popular choice. Alan Castel, a psychology professor at UCLA, suggests that younger audiences, especially, are naturally inclined towards this trend. His research indicates that when students listened to educational material at accelerated speeds, information retention was minimally affected. Comprehension maintained stability until speeds exceeded double that of ordinary speech rates, suggesting adaptability in processing rapid auditory information.

Nicholas Quah attests to this adaptation, having spent the past five years exclusively consuming sped-up podcasts. While he concedes that increased speeds might enhance focus by necessitating greater concentration, he remains unsure if this alone dictates attentiveness.

The music industry has not been immune to this acceleration. The genre known as “nightcore” — which involves increasing the tempo and pitch of songs — has gained traction since its creation by Norwegian DJs in the early 2000s. The phenomenon has only grown with artists like SZA and Oliver Tree releasing sped-up versions of their music simultaneously with original tracks. Simone Dalla Bella, a music psychology professor at the University of Montreal, explains that from a neurological standpoint, speedier music can alter our emotional perception. Research from his laboratory demonstrates that songs perceived as sad can be made to sound happier simply by increasing their tempo.

This melds into a trend where faster music, coupled with clips on platforms like TikTok, leads to increased engagement and dopamine release, suggesting a physiological allure to these alterations. Music, unlike other media forms, is largely unrestricted by speed limitations due to its non-reliance on linguistic comprehension, allowing for significant tempo increases.

The realm of film and television has also seen this fast-forward feature gain popularity. Netflix introduced variable playback speeds in 2020, catering to this growing demand. James E. Cutting, a cognitive scientist, notes that speeding up cinematic content isn’t a new practice. Over the decades, scene lengths in films have decreased, paralleling a rise in global IQ levels that can’t solely be attributed to education or biological evolution. Cutting attributes this to the increasing exposure and consumption of visual media, which has conditioned viewers to process visual information more rapidly.

Quah agrees, observing that as viewers are overwhelmed by extensive content options, they are more inclined to quickly discern what is worth their attention. This is reflective of broader consumption patterns in modern society, where the quantity of available media often prompts users to seek efficiency in exploration.

The widespread trend of speeding up media, from auditory to visual forms, reflects deep-rooted changes in cognitive processing and societal consumption habits. It highlights the dynamic relationship between technology, media, and the human brain. As these practices become more embedded in everyday life, they underscore a significant shift in how information is absorbed and valued in a digitally driven world.

Source: Noah Wire Services