Issue Report : All sides: The impact of the internet on thinking - Essay Example

“Issue Report – All sides The impact of the internet on thinking Internet despite generally known for its immense benefits in varied fields, the knowhow has not escaped societal criticisms citing it is currently affecting humanity thinking damagingly. Those supporting this idea use statement made by Roman Philosopher Seneca for the past 2,000 years citing a person being “everywhere” he or she is “nowhere” (Carr). This implies information availed to humanity currently besides making one aware of his or her immediate settings, has no help at all.

Since, online settings comprises of varied constant distractions and interruptions that render humanity to be extremely scattered and superficial thinkers (Carr). This is detrimental to the society and especially to the upcoming new phase of generation who will be doing their respective researches not to get to the core of the matter but on the surface, hence fail to unearth adequate as well as reliable facts (Carr). Mainly, this will emanate from constant interruptions and distractions that will render human beings turning into mere signal-processing live wares whose purpose is to gather disjointed research information (Carr).

This is because part of their researches’ content comprises pieces of information obtained from varied sites that do not have adequate scientific backing, which is a trend associated with badly done investigations mostly by lazy people (Carr). Those supporting internet being advantageous to humanity’s thinking utilize wide variety of information availed online, which makes young minds wired to obtaining what they need quickly. Brin in her study while acknowledging the current “hyperconnection” of young people cites their precision in finding specific information online and come up with facts that they require for purposes.

According to her, young people in their lives due to this heightened level of savvy will not in future suffer from cognitive shortcomings, which is common with other generations above them (Brin). This is because youths are capable of multitasking and even get answers for deep-seated questions concerning varied aspects affecting their lives. This is contrary to people over 35 years who most of them due to lack of adequate and heightened level of being savvy end up troubled by mere predicaments, which they can find solutions online (Brin).

Hence, counter arguing what numerous scholars have cited in their respective studies that internet contributes to making people more Dumber. Those claiming internet detrimentally affects human thinking refer to the current unique characteristic among online users, which is “mental promiscuity” (Tweedie). This is because of numerous distractions and interruptions characterizing young minds who due to the lure of numerous social sites and linked statement. Hence, they are unable to focus on what they intend to do especially when contacting their respective education related researches but end up tempted to clicking other sites like twitter, FaceBook besides others to interact with peers (Tweedie).

According to Tweedie, this aspect of multitasking coupled with numerous disruptions has rendered thinking capacity of many young online users become slower and shallower. This is because online users when faced by long and tedious texts tend to switch to other prompt and summarized content that will avail the required information with ease. Therefore, turning users to be “gatherers” and “hunters” of data found in the “electronic forest” (Tweedie). Users and especially young people their much of their efforts encompasses enable using only a cursor and not to searching reliable content by trying to comprehend long availed data but depend on the simplified sites, which in most cases are misleading (Tweedie).

Proponents of internet cite its use improves minds of elderly and middle-aged people (Spears). This is via simple browsing when trying to search for particular information they may be in need of online, which is contrary to those who do not use it at all (Spears). Based on studies so far contacted regarding internet’s benefits on brain, elderly people who are savvy tend to have higher heath state of mind than those lacking online experience (Spears). This is because browsing entails heightened brain activity, which is higher than that of a person reading physical text.

Hence, being a benefit to the elderly people who are internet savvy not only in obtaining the information they want but also exercising their respective brains while frequenting sites of their choice (Spears). This is because accessing certain specific information online entails one’s effort and creativity on how to navigate through the internet. Hence, presenting elderly savvies with necessary challenge similar to those of puzzle supposed to avail brain activity (Spears). Brain activity especially to the aging is essential in enabling them to develop a healthy brain whereby lack of it leads to mental lapse.

Work Cited Brin, Dinah, Wisenberg. Study: Internet Changing Young People’s Thinking, Behavior: HR professionals say they must be managed differently. Society For Human Resource Management- HRM. 4Th February 2012. Web. 22nd October 2013.   Carr, Nicholas. "Does the Internet make You Dumber? The Cognitive Effects are Measurable: We'Re Turning into Shallow Thinkers, Says Nicholas Carr." Wall Street Journal, Jun 04 2010. ProQuest. 22 Oct. 2013. Naughton, John. The internet: is it changing the way we think?

The Guardian. 15Th August 2010. Web. 22nd October 2013. Spears, Tom. "Surfing the Internet Good for Brain; 'use it Or Lose it,' Study Says of the Aging Mind." Edmonton Journal October 21st 2008 ProQuest. 22nd October 2013. Tweedie, Neil. "Internet may make Us Dumber, Experts Worry." The Vancouver Sun. Jun 29 2010 ProQuest. 22nd October 2013.