My Reflections on: Is Google Making Us Stupid?

The article Is Google Making Us Stupid by Nicholas Carr was fascinating! It was every bit intriguing, insightful, and eye-opening. Right from the start, I could relate to the author as I have also noticed the change in my mind from being able to focus for long periods of time to a more fidgety demeanor, especially when reading. Such a mundane task has become a challenge for us as it feels like it requires more effort to do. I think the simple act of reading is a luxury that is now taken for granted. It is as if the concept of delayed gratification no longer exists. It is more frequent that the mind wanders when focusing, making it harder to comprehend certain tasks. Not to mention, it feels as if we must relearn how to focus on one task at a time or even regain patience.

It is interesting to think about how technology is influencing our brains and altering our development. This idea that our brains are not as malleable as we once thought, but is rather more like plastic, is interesting as the human brain is not something that simply absorbs what it processes, but breaks and rebuilds new connections. To think that technology is adding to the workings of our intelligence and even changing or diminishing other skills we have acquired over the last few hundred years is beyond anything I could have imagined. Moreover, when Carr addressed the changes in nihilist Friedrich Nietzsche’s life, moving from traditional writing to the typewriter, and philosopher Socrates fearing Plato’s changes from the spoken to written word, I started to question how the advancements of technology in our era will alter the future and the skills humanity will gain – or lose – moving forward. Socrates worried that the wisdom and memory people had would be erased as people started to rely more on the written word; whereas, Nietzsche began relying on his typewriter instead of writing, similar to today’s dependence to computers.

He used this tool as a way to better his health physically (i.e., improve his vision) as he began to type with his eyes closed, stating that writing mechanisms play a role in forming our thoughts. Without either philosopher realizing it, these advancements were altering their way of thinking and life. It has also brought forth many blessings that transformed their worlds to the one we know today with one progression leading to the next.

I believe that as an educator, it is crucial that we follow the changes in technology, but understand its influence on us as well. It is necessary that we address this because we want to ensure that our students are not solely dependent on their gadgets, rather use it effectively and to their advantage. I believe this will help support their critical thinking skills without reducing their intellectual development. This is because I find that many people no longer investigate the things they encounter, and instead, take them for face value.

~ Emilia B (OTECC) @NU