No. #147

False Memory
- Recalling Events That Never Happened

False memory refers to the phenomenon of confidently recalling a memory that never actually occurred. This can significantly affect legal proceedings, therapeutic settings, and personal relationships, as well as consumer perceptions of products and brands, where individuals may form detailed memories of experiences or features that they never actually encountered.

Read more on Wikipedia

Product example

A user might claim to have experienced a bug in an app that never existed, based on a detailed but false memory.

Empathy tips

1

Clarify Product Information

Regularly clarify and confirm product information and updates to prevent the formation of false memories.

2

User Feedback Verification

Verify user feedback against change logs and product documentation to identify potential false memories.

3

Educational Content on Memory

Provide educational content on how memories can be influenced and the nature of false memories.

4

Encourage Critical Evaluation

Encourage users to critically evaluate their memories and the sources of their information before forming conclusions.

Need an empathic partner?

Anna Lundqvist portrait
Anna Lundqvist
UX & AI ethics expert driving better products and smarter teams.
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Eddy Salzmann
Design lead crafting seamless products and mentoring design teams.
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Ola Möller
Facilitator helping organisations see the big picture and take action.