Social Media and The Mandela Effect

Did you know that a recent memory study proved that 76% of adults failed to recall information accurately? There are multiple instances where large groups of people all misremember information like news events, brand names, or song lyrics incorrectly. This phenomenon is known as the Mandela Effect, and it may be more common than you think.

What You Thought You Saw is Wrong – Did it Happen?

Many psychologists have attempted to explain potential reasons as to why the Mandela Effect occurs. One of the most common explanations for this is asch conformity. This is when a person conforms to a certain view in order to align with a group. When multiple people all express the same opinion, it can be difficult for an individual to disagree. Humans naturally have the desire to be liked and to fit in, and conforming is one of the easiest ways to feel connected with a group. When someone works so hard to conform, they can start to believe information or memories that didn’t even happen.

With the emergence of the internet and social media, this desire to conform has become stronger than it has in the past. Information is spread across a wider audience at a faster speed over the internet which can lead to more people being exposed to misinformation that is easy to believe. Information that is spread over social media is not fact-checked and can lead to many people believing things that are not true. Social media allows for people to express their opinions, and the anonymity makes it easier to shame and shun those who do not agree. This can speed up the conformity process and it is believed that this may lead to more instances in the Mandela Effect. 

In Conclusion 

The Mandela Effect is a complex phenomenon that is clearly occurring across many areas of our lives. To learn more about this and how to avoid it in your own life, take a look at the infographic below: