Is Google Making Us Stupid

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Is Google Causing Us To Be Stupid?

Many may argue that the Internet causes us to be stupid or even lazy, but in actual sense

it is only those that know how to use the Internet, can see the benefits that the Internet offers.

The most importance resource that the Internet offers is information. In our current society

information is one of the most vital things that one should have. There is no possibility that

information can make someone stupid. Whether or not one decides to apply the information

found over the internet it cannot make one become stupid. The Internet is also not in any way

discouraging people to read. It just depends with one’s reading culture

Nicholas Carr introduces a view that the web is changing the way we live by causing us

to handle knowledge contrarily from previous times. He explains exactly how instead of using

critical thinking and research we nowadays think less deeply and rely on facts that we have not

looked into. Carr implies that the society may become simple minded, leaving the creative and

critical thinking that was there in the past. He begins to support his argument by exercising the

use of “A Space Odyssey” scene from Kubrick’s 2001 (Carr, 2008, p347).

Carr’s argument supports the notion Internet/computer is affecting our capability of

making our own decisions and develop our own individual ideas. He emphasizes the view of the

Internet being an inhibitor towards an individual’s thinking and creativity, making the society

lazy and stagnant due to the inability to pursue individual real time ideas thus creating superficial

thinkers.

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Carr explains how the Internet has affected him. After he had begun using the Internet, he

realized that he could not be able to read a long text about any given topic, without easily being

distracted. He no longer had the ability to concentrate and contemplate whatever he was reading

at any given time. (Carr, 2008, p347). Carr shared this sentiment with other researchers like

Bruce Friedman, a blogger, whom Carr used as an example pointed out the way it became

difficult to absorb information from a blog with over three pages. (Car, 2008, p348).

Carr emphasizes the effect of the Internet with regards to the way people read

information, ultimately affecting the way people think. He believes perceiving, comprehension

and implementation of information can only be achieved if there is total concentration and a firm

link to what one is reading (Carr 2010). One can fully be able to relate with information already

acquired and established in the brain if one pays attention to newer information. This can only be

achieved when one is deeply engrossed in whatever one is reading, regardless of the length of

information.

A study at UCLA’s memory and aging centers was conducted in 2008 to investigate how

the Internet affects cognition. The researchers separated the individuals between the ages of 55

and 75 years into two groups. One group was made up of individuals with no experiences

relating to Internet usage and the other group was made up of individuals who experience

Internet usage. An MRI scan was done to investigate the reactivity of their brains while reading a

book or while searching over the Internet. The experienced Internet users showed increased

activity in the brain with complex reasoning and advanced skills in decision making whereas the

inexperienced Internet users just lagged behind. A teacher at the Semel Institute for

Neuroscience and human conduct at UCLA, Dr. Gray Small, who was the principal investigator

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states that the results of the study showed that the Internet has physiological effects and benefits

for older and middle-aged adults (2008, Estes).

Some may argue that the Internet affects our concentration span while reading. However,

there are many more factors affecting our concentration like distraction from phones vibrating, a

poor environment for study, the desire to learn more, age, among many other factors that affect

our attention span that are in no way attributed to the Internet. The concentration span of

individuals varies greatly, depending on mind conditioning, mental makeup, the work load and

task at hand among other factors. The aspect of an individual being distracted by the Internet is

not accurate as the Internet is not the main culprit. This is because while reading a book one can

decide to set aside everything that distracts them and make a conducive environment for study.

This also depends on the urgency or the importance of studying the book.

The information on the Internet has nowadays come in handy. People all over the world

have an easy way of accessing information today and using the information to enrich one’s self

and changing their lives. Long distance and part time learners now have the easiness of

acquiring a vast amount of information that helps in increasing their knowledge on various topics

regardless of the absence of their professors and tutors. The information in the Internet has also

helped researchers in understanding and seeing various points of view with regards to their

interest. Parents can as easily help their children with doing homework, someone can simply

know how to cook or how to speak a foreign language just with the help of the Internet. The

Internet informs people about their health, wealth and other very important information that

could not have otherwise be possible, were it not for the Internet. The internet also encourages

Invention and innovation is brought about by having a vast amount of knowledge and this is

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exactly what the Internet offers. Imagine the possibilities and the lengths that the likes of Albert

Einstein would have reached with the information that is currently on the Internet.

Too much of anything is poisonous. The effect of using something for the wrong purpose

will always be negative. There is no way information on the Internet can be useless unless one

does not know how to use it. The main disadvantage the Internet has is causing distractions and

decreasing concentration. But all these are not brought by the Internet but the people using the

Internet. Nothing can be distractive unless you let it. There are people who are not affected or

distracted by the Internet. These people have the discipline to use the Internet for their own

betterment. The Internet has enabled people from all over the earth be able to acquire

information concerning anything from any place on the planet just by the use of mobile phones.

This information is life changing only to those who know how to use it. Despite the Internet

having some disadvantages, one of the greatest things the Internet offers is Information.

Currently people are more informed just because of the exposure brought about by the content I

the Internet. Information is the greatest method of empowering people.

Work Cited

Carr Nicholas, “Is Google Making Us Stupid.” Atlantic Magazine with readings 2008 347-355,

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