This is why you like to speed up podcasts, movies and music

Nicholas Quah is not the only person who has embraced the trend of speeding up podcasts. However, as a critic with New York Magazine and Vulture, he is one of the few who has publicly advocated for speeding up not just podcasts, but virtually every form of media. While some may view this trend as crazy or even sociopathic, for those who agree with Quah, it has become a way of life.

To delve deeper into why people are drawn to speeding up podcasts and other forms of media, CBC News spoke to leading researchers in cognitive science. According to UCLA psychology professor and metacognition researcher Alan Castel, listening to podcasts at faster speeds can actually make sense, especially for younger listeners. In a study on learning, Castel found that college-aged students were able to retain almost as much information when listening to lessons at up to double the intended speed. Additionally, some individuals can be trained to understand speech at speeds of more than three times the normal rate, improving their ability to process information at faster speeds over time.

Castel also discovered that when listening to content at increased speeds, listeners were less likely to experience “mind wandering,” or distracted thoughts about unrelated topics. Quah, who has only listened to podcasts at accelerated speeds for the past five years, has found that he can understand the content just as easily at a faster rate. While he remains skeptical about whether speedier podcasts are more effective at holding his attention, he acknowledges that he can grasp information at a quicker pace.

The trend of speeding up music has also gained momentum, with nightcore becoming a popular genre that involves increasing the tempo of existing songs. Simone Dalla Bella, a professor of psychology at the University of Montreal who studies music’s effects on the brain and body, explains that there is a neuroscience perspective that supports the prevalence of this trend. In a study conducted by Dalla Bella’s lab, researchers found that when a slow song was gradually sped up, listeners perceived it as happier, even though all other aspects of the song remained the same. This phenomenon highlights the brain’s ability to respond to increased tempo and pitch in music, creating a novel listening experience that triggers automatic responses like increased respiration, heart rate, dopamine levels, and pleasure.

While speeding up movies and TV shows may be more controversial, the practice has also become more popular. Netflix, for example, introduced the ability to adjust playback speed in 2020, a feature that Quah frequently uses. Cognitive scientist James E. Cutting notes that the trend of speeding up movies dates back nearly a century, with shots in films becoming shorter over time. As visual media has become more prevalent, audiences have become adept at processing information quickly from screens. Cutting suggests that viewers may be speeding up movies to match the pace at which they have unconsciously adapted to consuming visual media.

Quah believes that the proliferation of visual media has led to a greater need to quickly determine what content is worth investing time in. As the number of viewing options continues to grow, audiences are faced with the question of whether they want to stay engaged with a particular piece of content or move on to the next. This shift in consumption patterns has driven the desire to consume media at faster speeds, as individuals seek to efficiently navigate through the vast array of available content.

In conclusion, the trend of speeding up podcasts, music, and movies reflects a shift in how audiences consume and engage with media in the digital age. While some may view this trend with skepticism or concern, there is a growing body of research that suggests that individuals are capable of processing information at accelerated speeds without sacrificing comprehension or engagement. As the landscape of media consumption continues to evolve, the practice of speeding up content may become increasingly common as audiences seek to optimize their viewing and listening experiences in a world of endless options.