A “Smart” Population Gone Dumb
The Implications of an Antisocial Social Era
Have you noticed that the more technologically advanced we’ve become, the less intelligent we are?
First, I should make clear what I mean by the word “intelligence”. This definition is not referring to book smarts, but rather the invaluable skill of critical thinking.
What is Critical Thinking?
According to the University of Stanford, critical thinking is defined by the philosopher John Dewey as “active, persistent and careful consideration of any belief or supposed form of knowledge in the light of the grounds that support it, and the further conclusions to which it tends.”
Furthermore, Monash University of Melbourne Australia defined critical thinking as “a kind of thinking in which you question, analyze, interpret, evaluate and make a judgement about what you read, hear, say, or write.”
In a reflective conversation with my 90-year-old grandmother the other day, she boasted about her knack for mental math. As an Estonian woman born a few years before World War II, calculators weren’t a viable solution to problem-solving. The mind required great fortitude with the absence of technology and its sheer efficiency. This is but one example of critical thinking in action.
The Shrinking of the Modern-Day Human Brain
Compared to 3,000 years ago, the human brain has decreased in size. Scientists suspect this is due to the “externalization of knowledge in human societies”, requiring less energy to be used by the brain.
Why solve a math equation in your head when you can use your smartphone to generate the same answer but faster? The charm is unmistakable. The Internet can promulgate information on any topic, from objective truths to necessary but faulty speculation by Reddit users hiding in the dark of their basements.
With a population that has grown overwhelmingly dependent on technology, we have partially lost our ability to think critically.
The Antisocial, ADD Archetype
It’s no question that technology increases antisocial behaviour and shortens attention span with the use of TikTok, Instagram and Youtube shorts. Information is swiftly fed to the human brain, effectively creating an addictive dopamine reward system.
Look up the next time you’re on public transit and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Technology is used as a safety crutch from potentially awkward social situations and boredom.
In The Village Effect by Susan Pinker, Pinker speaks about how our online connections are expanding whilst our in-person connections are simultaneously decreasing. The fact that one can curate a persona online that is celebrated by their “virtual” friends, requiring no effort beyond a simple tap of a button speaks to the peril of the predicament we’re in.
In conjunction with the above effects, technology usage also decreases the strength of our memory. In an article by the Huff Post, author Carolyn Gregoire explained that the degree of our intelligence is predicated on our ability to transfer information from short-term working memory to long-term memory.
Gregoire follows with a quote by the acclaimed American writer Nicholas Carr, “While our long-term memory has a nearly unlimited capacity, the short-term memory has more limited storage, and that storage is very fragile. A break in our attention can sweep its contents from our mind.”
Cashiers Vs. Self-Checkout
The prevalence of technology has also reduced the aggregate usefulness of employees; for example, self-checkout abnegates the necessity for checkout experiences involving human-to-human interaction. While self-checkout experiences are based on efficiency, the necessary social sharpness and problem-solving that accompany a regular checkout experience are placed on the back burner.
In a 2018 study shared by CBC from CivicScience, a data collection and market research company, 1,969 adults were surveyed on their preference between cashiers and self-checkout. The greater the age, the higher the favourability of cashiers over machines. 75% of individuals over 55 preferred face-to-face interaction, 55% of individuals aged 35–54 and 39% 18–34. This gap can likely be credited to millennials' familiarization with technology, whereas boomers are less inured to the functioning of modern tech.
Despite the lure of digitization and its benefits, humans are indubitably social creatures. In my previous article, “Social Isolation is a Death Sentence”, I detail the advantages of social integration on long-term health. It has been shown to decrease cortisol and, therefore, the likelihood of disease, increasing lifespan and quality.
You Can’t Fight Nature
The fast acceleration of technological ingenuity demands our dire attention. There are aspects of our lives that should be left to their natural unfolding, namely the food that we eat, the bodies we inhabit and the processes that make life meaningful — social interaction and continual personal development. No goal can come alive or provide gratification in its truest sense without the journey that preceded it.
My personal belief: technology will make the conscious smarter and the unconscious dumber. It is up to us to decide what hold we want technology to have on our lives. Maintaining mindfulness around technology use is paramount in alleviating its negative impacts including, but not limited to, memory loss, poor social adjustment, low self-esteem, a lack of brain stimulation and social anxiety.
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more interesting topics like this one ☺️
