An image of a clock taken in Level 27. It is unknown if the time shown is accurate, or if time exists in the backrooms at all.
Time dilation is a term describing any form of time anomalies that occur within the Backrooms.
Description:
In the Backrooms, time is something that is messy or even non-existent. Most devices used to measure time such as clocks will usually either be frozen or be moving uncontrollably. However, devices like timers do not have this effect due to the fact that they are simply used for measuring how much time has passed, not the actual time. Even after extensive research, there has been no conclusive evidence as to why this effect happens. The correlation between time in the Backrooms and normal reality is unknown, although there does seem to be a slight link between the two.
The time link between the Backrooms and normal reality is hypothesised to be constantly changing depending on the person experiencing it. Theoretically, one day in the frontrooms could be a few seconds in the Backrooms to one person, and hundreds of years to another. The majority of wanderers have described time seeming unnaturally slow in the Backrooms, with dehydration and starvation occurring at a much later time than usual, but this is not the case for everyone. It is easy to assume that this effect is simply due to the fact that most humans do not have the ability to accurately tell how much time has passed, however; there is an overwhelming amount of evidence that suggests otherwise. It is mostly unknown how aging works in the Backrooms.
Sleep can also be an issue due to this phenomenon, as our bodies' circadian rhythm1 will easily become out of whack in the Backrooms. This is why it is extremely important to set a timer and schedule for yourself, so you can let your body slowly adapt to its new environment. Failure to do so could result in activating the wretched cycle.
Factors:
There are many possible factors that could explain why time dilation exists. Due to the dilation of time being highly variable from person to person, this suggests some topics of the existence of a higher being, choosing how different wanderers experience time. This topic is heavily debated upon, as there is no clear answer to whether or not a higher being exists in the Backrooms or not.
Another possible factor is the age of the wanderer. As older people have much more life experience, they will most likely experience time at a faster rate, and this effect is further driven by the anomalous effects of the Backrooms. Meanwhile, younger wanderers will most likely experience time at a much slower pace.
The way one previously perceived time in the Frontrooms is also a likely factor as to how they will perceive it in the backrooms. Anyone with mental disorders such as depression or anxiety will most likely experience time dilation more drastically upon entering the Backrooms.
Additional information:
The only known level that does not include time dilation is Level 45, as it seems to perfectly align with the Central Time Zone of the Frontrooms, including a day/night cycle.
