Cartoon: Missing the moment

Whitney Hoffacker, Staff Writer • May 20, 2026

At every graduation, birthday, wedding, or even just a beautiful sunset, one will see hundreds of people snapping photos to try to capture the moment. However, do all the snaps and flashes really help people remember the event, or are they just distractions from what is happening right before their eyes? According to Time, recording, taking photos, or writing down details of an event can actually lead to a 10% decrease in recall of that occasion. These kinds of distractions happen because people believe they will miss the moment if they don’t digitally capture it forever. According to StudyFinds, 45% of respondents said they felt they needed to take photos of an event to remember it in detail, and spent 40% of their time there doing so. Most of this pressure to capture special moments comes from posting on social media. According to the Institute of Network Cultures, social media constantly drives people to snap photos or record moments to post later. This can lead to an overreliance on social media to remember an event and to a loss of memory about what truly happened. Overall, the pressure to savor a moment is constant, but the best way to enjoy a special occasion is to put the phone down and simply watch without any distractions. (Whitney Hoffacker)

About the Contributor

Whitney Hoffacker

Whitney Hoffacker, Staff Writer

Whitney (class of 2028) is a sophomore at Carlmont High School, actively involved in soccer teams in and out of school. When she is not playing soccer with her friends, you can find her watching movies with her mom and dad or driving around getting food with her sister. She is passionate about helping others and spends her weekends serving food. She is excited to start her journalism career!