Introduction
The concept of intelligence, which people have been attempting to define for many centuries, means different things to different people. Some might define intelligence as one’s problem-solving abilities or might associate it with adaptive social skills, while others might interpret the concept as the creative capacity one holds. Whatever the definition, the consensus is that intelligence has to do with the skills one possesses and can potentially develop.
With the exponential technological progress and the spread of the popularity and use of the Internet, the children born in the past decade or two are experiencing unique forming circumstances. Children as young as four or five are quickly becoming acquainted with their parents’ iPads and Smartphones, able to navigate them with no trouble. And yet, there are numerous concerns about the potentially damaging effect technology has on attention, in-person social interactions, memory, and so on.
Large Influx of Information
One of the main reasons people argue that the new technology negatively affects intelligence is the large influx of mainly unfiltered information that the Internet offers its users. Impressionable and often naïve customers, especially children, see, read, and “hear many things without being properly taught” (Plato 2), often not having the skills necessary to filter and interpret the information in front of them.
The constant influx of this mostly non-credible data leaves little room for the people to develop their own thoughts instead of taking in the ready knowledge they are exposed to on the Internet. Moreover, since a lot of the information presented to the users on the Internet is personalized depending on the previous activity, it often only represents a single perspective. Instead of being an unbiased source, the Internet usually “shape[s] the process of thought” (Carr 2), presenting this information in a particular way. This leads to people simply absorbing material in front of them instead of thinking it through, which does not let them develop their intelligence.
Decreased Attention Span
Furthermore, the increased use of the Internet leads to fragmented attention and often a decreased attention span. With the various blogs, short videos, and audio summaries available, people can switch between dozens of sources without focusing too much on each one. Although this habit, arguably, allows individuals to search through more information than is possible with a more single-focused attention span, it also decreases the depth of retained information. Moreover, some people become “fidgety, lose the thread, begin looking for something else to do” (Carr 1) instead of staying on task. Therefore, these individuals do not often have the motivation or concentration for developing the skills necessary to improve their intelligence.
Conclusion
In summary, although the long-term effects of new technology on human intelligence are yet to be researched and studied, the fact that some strong effect exists remains true. Undoubtedly, the way people perceive and process information is changing because of technological evolution; however, whether this change is positive or negative is difficult to judge. Some of the effects described above, namely increased attention deficit and lack of original thinking, demonstrate the adverse effects of technology. However, effects such as increased speed of surface research can be regarded as positive. Therefore, technology presents mixed influences on intelligence, making humankind both more and less intelligent.
Works Cited
Carr, Nicholas. “Is Google Making Us Stupid? What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains.” The Altantic, 2008. Web.
Plato. Phaedrus. Translated by Alexander Nehamus and Paul Woodruff, Indianapolis and Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 1995.