Last year I visited the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia—one of the best art museums in the world. I was expecting to serenely experience its masterpieces, but my view was blocked by a wall of smartphones taking pictures of the paintings. And where I could find a bit of empty space, there were people taking selfies to create lasting memories of their visit.
For many people, taking hundreds, if not thousands, of pictures is now a crucial part of going on holiday—documenting every last detail and posting it on social media. But how does that affect our actual memories of the past—and how we view ourselves? As an expert on memory, I was curious.
