Introduction
There are strong arguments for both sides of the controversial and complex question of whether technology will make people smarter. Although some people think that technology will improve knowledge and cognitive skills, others worry that it might not have the desired impact on human intelligence. This essay will discuss these arguments, as well as the potential advantages and disadvantages of technology on human intelligence.
Technology Enhancing Intelligence
One of the main justifications for the hypothesis that technology will make people smarter is the increased access to information it offers. Thanks to the abundance of information available online, people now have access to resources that were inaccessible in the past. This can result in increased knowledge and comprehension of many topics, including history, science, and current events.
Technology can also assist people in improving their problem-solving abilities. Search engines and artificial intelligence have made it possible for people to analyze data and find patterns in ways that were previously impossible (Canhoto and Clear 185). This can improve people’s ability to think critically and solve complex problems.
Technology can also be a useful tool for education. Through online courses, educational apps, and digital textbooks, students can benefit from interactive and interesting learning opportunities that may not be available in traditional classroom settings (Kurniawan et al. 3676). This may result in greater interest in and retention of the information, which may advance general intellectual development.
Technology Diminishing Intelligence
However, there are good reasons to worry that technology might not improve human intelligence as intended. One concern is the potential decline in critical thinking abilities. As people become more dependent on technology to give them answers, they may lose the ability to independently analyze and interpret information (Raja and Nagasubramani 35). Because of this, it may be harder to solve problems and be more creative, two crucial aspects of intelligence.
Furthermore, it can be challenging to distinguish between reliable information and unreliable information, given the wealth of information made available by technology. Through social media and other online platforms, false information and fake news can spread quickly, which can be detrimental to general intelligence.
Another issue is the potential for technology to divert attention from learning (Raja and Nagasubramani 35). Social media, online gaming, and other digital entertainment options are widely available, so people might be more likely to spend their time there than on pursuits that advance learning and intellectual development. Technology use can also negatively impact mental health, which can affect cognitive abilities. Social media use has been linked in studies to higher rates of anxiety and depression, which can negatively impact cognitive function (Raja and Nagasubramani 35). Additionally, the constant interruptions and notifications from technology can cause a decrease in motivation and focus, which can further impair cognitive abilities.
Last but not least, there is the worry that technology may result in a decline in social and empathy skills. People may become less skilled at comprehending and responding to the emotions of others as they spend more time interacting with technology and less time interacting with others (Orben 408). This may result in a decline in social skills and make it more challenging for people to build lasting relationships.
Despite these worries, there are ways to use technology to improve human intelligence. Promoting digital literacy is one way to do this, as it entails teaching people how to navigate the sea of online information and distinguish between what is reliable and what isn’t. It is also critical to use technology to encourage learning rather than entertainment and to be aware of its potential to be a distraction.
Conclusion
Despite claims to the contrary, there are legitimate worries that technology may not have the desired impact on human intelligence. The possibility of a decline in critical thinking abilities, the prevalence of inaccurate information, the distraction from learning, and the detrimental effects on mental health and social skills support this argument. Therefore, it is crucial to consider these issues when assessing how technology will affect human intelligence.
Works Cited
Canhoto, Ana Isabel and Fintan Clear. “Artificial intelligence and machine learning as business tools: A framework for diagnosing value destruction potential.” Business Horizons, vol. 63, 2020, pp. 183-193. Web.
Kurniawan, Andy, et al. “Education and Modern Technologies, Their Positive and Negative Impact.” Turkish Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, vol. 32, no. 2, 2021, pp. 3674-3681.
Raja, R. and P. C. Nagasubramani. “Impact of modern technology in education.” Journal of Applied and Advanced Research, vol. 3, no. 1, 2018, pp. 33-35. Web.
Orben, Amy. “Teenagers, screens and social media: a narrative review of reviews and key studies.” Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, vol. 55, 2020, pp. 407-414. Web.