Table of Contents
Is google making us stupid
Advanced technology has overpowered and impacted our lifestyle in various ways. By spending much time on the internet, human brain no longer functions as before according to Carr. Despite that, every information can easily be found online as the analog trend continues to fade away. The article goes ahead to discuss the benefits that internet has introduced and the consequences being paid by the users. However, the internet may be causing detrimental effects on our brains by reducing the capacity for contemplation and concentration but still making us smarter.
The highest percentage of the population spends most of their time on the internet since it is easier to get information. However, carr’s argument has brought a hot discussion where many believe that Google has made people smarter while others agree that it is reprogramming their memory and remapping their neural circuitry (Carr, 1). On the other side, some writers agree the internet has become a great help when it comes to research. Research that could take days is now done within a few minutes (Carr, 2). Authors such as Scott Karp confesses that he no longer read books as he used to do in college “I was a lit major in college, and used to be a voracious book reader” (Carr, 3). Bruce Friedman, explained the phenomenon by saying ”I now have almost totally lost the ability to read and absorb a longish article on the web or in print” (Carr, 3). Furthermore, the internet has become the universal medium hence affecting cognition as argued by the author (Carr, 2). A research conducted by University College London showed that researchers hop from a single source to the other hoping to find the information they want (Carr, 3).
With the massive messaging, people are reading more as compared to the 1970s and 1980s before the internet was established (Carr, 4). The current generation has its mind more focused online and it is significantly affecting the brain. A person’s mind is flexible and can easily create new connections according to James Olds who is a professor of neuroscience (Carr, 5). The increased daftness has mainly been directed to the use of the internet although the subject has not been scientifically proven. However, the internet is extremely powerful to the extent of diffusing people’s concentration and scattering their attention. Although the mission of Google is “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful” (Carr, 8). At some point, it is argued that a person’s brain is outdated and requires a large hard drive and fast processor (Carr, 9). This means that with the help of google the human brain becomes rich in updated information from the internet. Hal and Dave’s scene is used as an illustration of how the human mind has been affected by the use of the internet (Carr, 1). Carr’s argument is just theoretical which provides a gap for criticism.
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In conclusion, the internet may have caused detrimental effects on the human mind but also it may have brought more knowledge. Carr’s article got attention from other scholars who either agreed or criticized his argument. Maryanne Wolf, a developmental psychologist says that reading isn’t an inherent skill and not inscribed into the genes (Carr, 4). Basically, one must teach the mind to translate characters read into their understanding. Therefore, although the internet may be affecting cognition it remains a universal source of knowledge.
Works Cited
- Carr, Nicholas. “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” The Atlantic, 1 July 2008, www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/306868.
References
- Is Google Making Us Stupid?
- The impact of the Internet on society: A global perspective
- Stanford study examines how the internet is changing our brains
- Effects of internet use on the adolescent brain: despite popular claims, experimental evidence remains scarce
- How has the internet changed our lives? An expert takes stock
