洗腦神曲 Earworms

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(Verokita, 2021)

My money don’t jiggle jiggle, it folds?

同學們最近有沒有被IG和其他社群媒體上的電音轟炸了？

不斷聽到電音歌曲的混音版（remix），也看到許多美國人隨著這些洗腦神曲跳舞。我個人覺得這是個蠻有趣的畫面，同時也彰顯了社群媒體的影響力有多大（可以讓號稱全世界最不愛動的美國，掀起全民跳舞的運動）。

來，聽這些「魔音神曲」的同時也學點英文吧！不妨思考看看，為何這些歌曲與舞蹈能在社群媒體上大受歡迎？

Why do so many people post videos of themselves dancing to catchy beats?

到底為什麼有這麼多人會發布自己隨著洗腦神曲起舞的影片？

It turns out that these songs and dances are so addictive on social media because people are hard-wired to mimic other people.

這些歌曲與舞蹈在社交媒體上之所以令人如此上癮，乃因人們天生就會模仿他人（hardwired to mimic others）。

Researchers claim imitation functions through a “mirror neurons” system, which is believed to exist in the brains of primates. When we watch another person perform an action, mirror neurons are fired in our the motor cortex in order to map that specific movement onto our bodies. Additionally, researchers have found, in studies on unconscious imitation, strangers who subconsciously mirror one another’s body movements and gestures when they first meet report greater mutual positive feelings (Edwards-Fitzsimons, 2020).

科學家們相信，模仿是藉由「鏡像神經元」（mirror neurons）系統來發揮作用，可能普遍存在於所有靈長類（primates）的大腦中。當我們觀看他人的舉動時，鏡像神經元會在整個運動皮層（motor cortex）中啟動，並將之反射至我們的身體。在無意識模仿（unconscious imitation）的研究中，研究人員發現，初次見面的陌生人下意識地（subconsciously）模仿對方的姿態與手勢者，彼此間也有著更多的正面感受（positive feelings）。

This mutual “likability boost” also exists for those engaged in synchronous movement matching to the same beat (i.e., dancing together). People engaged in such activities report “liking each other better, remembering more about each other, and trusting each other more” (Edwards-Fitzsimons, 2020). That is, powerful feelings of group unity are produced by activities involving synchronized movement.

這種「好感度提升」（likability boost）亦可見諸於同一節奏裡同步運動（synchronous movement）的人（用白話文說就是——一起跳舞），他們回饋道：「更喜歡彼此，能記住對方更多，並更加信任彼此」。也就是說，但凡是同步運動的活動，即可產生強烈的團結感，而這些行為往往是群體團結感的核心。

Moreover, there is very low barrier to posting existing content. Since mimicry is the biggest driver for the “average” users to create content, most new content creators can easily find video templates and concepts developed by more experienced content creator, which lowers the barrier for content creation. Certain platforms have also made it extremely easy for creators to use in-built toolkits, which they then quickly learn to use by looking at user-generated tutorial videos. Lastly, users may not just copy the concept, they will also contribute to that concept community by adding their own little creativity, making content creation both easy and rewarding (Wang, 2008).

此外，發布現有內容的門檻非常低 (low barrier)。由於模仿 (mimicry) 是普通用戶創作（create content）的最大動力，新的內容創作者（content creator）大多可以輕易找到經驗豐富者所開發的影片模版與概念，從而降低了內容創作（content creation）的門檻。某些平臺還讓創作者得以非常輕鬆地使用這些工具，他們可以觀看用戶上傳的教學影片，更快地學會它們。最後，用戶可能不只是互抄概念，他們還會加入自己的小巧思，以貢獻概念社群，讓內容創作既簡單又有益。

當然還有其他原因，就留待大家自行探索了：

A Close Look into TikTok
https://medium.com/@seanzhiyangwangsk/a-look-into-tik-toks-success-6c12ebae572c

The Secret of TikTok’s Success?
https://theconversation.com/the-secret-of-tiktoks-success-humans-are-wired-to-love-imitating-dance-moves-133057

How can we minimize Instagram’s harmful effects?
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/03/feature-minimize-instagram-effects

美國大學生怎麼看抖音？
https://www.storm.mg/lifestyle/2929687?mode=whole

此類平臺的優缺點（pros and cons）何在，也是值得我們思考的問題。再者，我們是否能以限制（restrictions）來減少所有可能的負面效應？為什麼？

洗腦神曲相關詞彙：

•viral video formula 爆紅影片的公式
•addictive beat 讓人上癮的節奏
•can’t get the song out of my head 沒辦法把這首歌趕出我的腦袋
•catchy tune 朗朗上口的曲調
•hook (n.) 歌裡最能使人哼唱不已的樂句
•repetitive lyrics 重複的歌詞
•electronic dance tune 電子舞曲
•go viral 像病毒般蔓延；大量流傳；爆紅
•conquer the internet 征服網路
•earworm 餘音繞樑的曲調 (洗腦神曲)
•content creators 內容創作者
•bizarre 奇異的
•unique wardrobe 獨特的服裝、打扮
•dance moves 舞步
•dance routines 固定的舞蹈動作
•viral dances 網紅舞蹈
•amass more than…views 累積超過⋯⋯觀看次數
•global phenomenon 全球現象
•mainstream media 主流媒體
•hype (n.) 炒作；熱潮
•cult following 狂熱的追隨者