Is Google Making Us Stupid - Essay Example

Bader Alfailakawi

Prof. Hadbawnik

English 101

May 8th, 2016

No More Brains

Since the inception of computers, many people have expressed their ideas on how they feel that the computers and the internet are making people either more stupid or enlightening them. Many arguments have been presented in light of this topic. Nicholas Carr is one such prolific writer who has incessantly written essays on how the internet and computers are making people dumber especially on literary reading skills and cognition. On the other hand, a study done in UCLA’s Memory and Aging center proposed that the internet actually makes people smart through easier and faster access to vast amounts of information. These among other studies and arguments have been continually presented regarding the issue. It remains very important to answer the question of what the internet and computers at large are doing to our brains. This paper presents an argumentative essay on the same topic. While internet is handy for several reasons and its existence has made many aspects of life easy, the continual use of computers and the internet among many people seems to make people more stupid especially on cognitive and intellectual grounds

While Adam Clark agrees with the study results of a survey at UCLA’s Memory and Aging center, these results that computer usage increases cognition remains skeptical. According to this study, brain scans of a group of adults were done. This survey used two groups of subjects. The first was experienced internet users and the other inexperienced users. Both the subject groups had individual between the ages of 55 and 76 years. The survey revealed that the MRI scans for the astute internet users revealed that experienced users of the internet showed increased brain activity and cognitive function (Clark, 8). The functional MRI scans for inexperienced internet users showed that this group lagged behind in cognition when using computers. This argument presented by Adam regarding this study is not all the way acceptable. First, this study did not control for cognitive disorders that have high incidence among people of the study age bracket. This might have been the reason for decreased cognition among the second study group. Second, the study as was performed was a bit biased and cannot thus be used as evidence that exposure to the internet is responsible for high cognitive functions among the first group of subjects. The functional state of the brain was measured using a familiar activity to the first group. They actually had an idea of what they were doing and thus the high cognitive functions. If the study had used the same groups but for a different task like drafting an essay or any intellectual activity, the results might have been of more use than for the activity employed in this study. According to me, this study is non-conclusive and does not present actual results that internet usage increases intellectual capability.

Journalist John Battelle fails to convince that the internet indeed makes one smart. While refuting Carr’s argument that the internet does make us stupid, journalist Battelle John says “When deep in search for knowledge in the internet….reading deeply in one link and skimming in the next several links… I feel like am getting smarter” (Wellmon, 13). Battelle says that his concentration is not reduced while reading on the internet. He also asserts that the internet provides hundreds of information in a faster manner and that while reading this information he feels himself getting smarter. I agree with Battelle that the internet provides much information that would be otherwise difficult to find. I however disagree, with the journalist that his concentration is not reduced. He says that he reads deeply on a few links and skims the next several links. In his own, writing he confirms that he does not concentrate as long. Skimming is very common among internet users. Classical reading mostly involves in-depth reading with deep concentration. Reading from the internet has allowed many readers to skim through information looking for specifics. This tendency makes most of these readers miss some important information not striking immediately as vital. I also think that Battelle is overstating the fact that he feels smart while reading from the internet. One cannot evaluate how smart they are until a standard method of examination is devised. Battelle does not present a true argument except for the part that the internet has volumes of information.

Though unaccepted by other scholars, Nicholas Carr presents a sound and true argument in his essay on why the internet is making us stupid. In his much-criticized essay, Nicholas Carr says “… the net is chipping away my capacity for concentration and for contemplation.” (Carr, 5) Nicholas Carr presents several reasons why Google is making most of us stupid. Carr says that the internet presents so much information but most readers take this information as it is and do not attempt to analyze or criticize this information. Carr also brings it forth that literary reading has greatly changed with internet reading. According to Carr, “Most readers have reduced concentration and only read lightly when using internet sources.” Carr puts forth his worry that internet reading focuses more on efficiency and immediacy above other aspects of literary reading. According to this essay, Carr says that with internet reading, “Readers do not pay more close attention to the texts they read, interpretive ability has also reduced and so has the concentration of these readers.”

I unswervingly endorse the argument presented by Nicholas Carr in his essay. Maryanne Wolf, the author of Proust and Squid: “The Story and Science of the Reading Brain,” says, “We are not only what we read but how we read.” This is concerning the kind of reading internet readers adopt. Most net readers value efficiency and immediacy. These people use mainly skimming while avoiding deep reading. Internet reading does indeed reduce the capacity of one to read more deeply as the information required is available instantly and specifically with the correct key words. Furthermore, Wolf confirms that when we read from the internet sources, we turn into mere decoders of the information. It is apparent that most readers nowadays take what they read from the internet as fact. The people do not bother to criticize this information.

Even though few readers refuse it, Carr is correct on his statement that the internet presents so many distractions and hinders the focus of any reader. He further states that the use on internet sources of information affects the process of thought and memory. According to his essay (Carr, 3), “Reading affects the brain circuits and enhances memory.” The internet avails much information, which is easily accessible. This hinders ones memory state of the information and contemplation on the same. Clive Thompson also adds that the perfect silicon computer memory besides being a blessing present a problem of memory to the computer user. I think Carr and Thompson present a sound argument. Reading from the internet presents more distractions that reading from physical print. Most pages on the internet have different and numerous advertisements plus suggestions on other topics that may be trending. Even the most focused reader at times comes across a relevant ad that may not be immediately relevant to the topic. Secondly, the internet provides easy access to information. This presents that many people will continually refer to the information on demand and either copy it or apply it subconsciously. This stands that this information is not set to memory.

Contrary to McAfee’s reason, the internet does not increase intellect through its many social platforms. Andre McAfee posted in Forbes reasons why the internet is not making us stupid. According to McAfee, “The internet provides a rich social platform where people can meet old friends and make new friends.” He says that the net has made it easier for social interactions and can enable one make friends faster and keep in touch with people for a long time even with change of circumstances (McAfee, 7). According to his argument, McAfee asserts that social interaction shape ones thinking and actions. Social appraisals promote healthy cognitive environment by various ways including improved self-esteem and worth that translates into better performance at many institutions of life. I think McAfee is overstretching his argument on social impact on functionality. The idea that the internet provides a rich social platform is true. However, most of the friendships made via such social platforms are not genuine. Furthermore, these friends made via the internet are rarely available to one during times of need. This makes physically available friends more useful. Research also shows that most people who enjoy making friends on social platforms in the internet tend to be socially withdrawn. This is easily seen with teenagers who are often withdrawn from people while embracing information technologies like texting and internet social platforms. These people also spend more time on the internet and lack in physical connection with people, which is more effective at increasing self-esteem.

A media theorist and author, Marshall McLuhan states that the media is not only a passive channel that relays information but also a tool that shapes ones thoughts and actions. McLuhan says that one’s thoughts and thus behavior are determined by the information one gets (McLuhan, 35). Nicholas Carr goes further to assert that the net chips away ones contemplation and determines their behavior (Carr, 4). With this, the internet makes us more stupid by influencing and blunting our thoughts. McLuhan’s statement is true as confirmed by many psychologists. Carr also presents a true argument. An example is in the many funny clips on YouTube and the pranks people play on others. These ideas are gotten from the internet and applied to real life. Most of them are dumb but their popularity masks this. However, the internet also provides quality information that fosters good behavior and this cannot be overlooked.

In conclusion, all of us agree that the internet provides a lot of information, but it does not make us smarter. Also, with all of these authors, who agree with the statement, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”, and I actually agree with it because the resource itself may not be true or fact and when we use the too much, we will no longer have not only the experience of life or true information but also the previous cognitive abilities and literary traits. As all of these writers say that internet is good and helpful for us in some ways, however; it is not a good quality to depend on as a 100% because it also will change our way of thinking and reading in a bad way that we didn’t use to use our ability like that, such as skimming some resources from many links and got nothing as beneficial for us in writing. For me, doing wasting time on something else is better than skimming information that may not be true. Battelle is a sample of disagreeing with Carr’s statement and these people who may agree Battelle of what he says, they may become addicted with the internet. This level is dangerous for humans especially their brains because it will affect them badly and make them stupid instead of smart or genius.