Critical Thinking is Dead And We’re Paying the Price!!
I overheard a conversation at the gym the other day. An older man was talking to someone, and he said, “Critical thinking is dead. With all the social media and information being thrown at us, the youth only do and follow what they see on screens.”
I stopped mid-rep. “Wow. That’s spot on.”
He continued, “No one is an independent thinker anymore.”
And he’s right. People don’t question things like they used to. They don’t analyze, challenge, or even pause to consider whether something makes sense. Instead, they scroll, react, and repeat whatever aligns with what they already believe. The ability to think critically and to dissect information, look at different angles, and form original thoughts is disappearing. And we’re paying the price for it in ways most people don’t even realize.
A Society That Thinks in Headlines
We live in a time where people mistake knowing of something for actually understanding it. News articles are replaced with bite-sized tweets, discussions are reduced to 15-second reels, and deep thought has been swapped for surface-level outrage.
People form entire worldviews based on headlines. They repost without reading. They argue without researching. They take whatever fits their narrative and discard the rest. And because of that, we’re now a society that reacts rather than reflects, follows rather than questions.
It’s not just the youth, either. It’s everyone. The constant flood of content has made people lazy thinkers. Why analyze when an algorithm will tell you what to believe? Why research when a 30-second clip already “explains” everything? Why ask questions when the answer is pre-packaged for you?
The Death of Independent Thought
It used to be that people prided themselves on thinking for themselves. Now? People pride themselves on who they follow. They’re more interested in what’s trending than what’s true. They’d rather fit in than stand out.
Question something publicly, and you’re labeled a conspiracy theorist. Think differently from the herd, and you’re the problem. The system has created a culture where independent thought isn’t just rare it’s punished.
And the craziest part? Most people don’t even see it happening.
What Happens When People Stop Thinking?
When critical thinking dies, manipulation thrives.
- - Politicians lie without consequence because people don’t challenge them.
- - Media outlets push narratives instead of truth, and no one notices.
- - People are sold lifestyles, ideologies, and even outrage without questioning who benefits from it.
Without critical thinking, we become easy to control. We accept, we conform, we obey because thinking for ourselves takes effort. And effort is the one thing social media has trained us to avoid.
How Do We Fix This?
It starts with awareness. The moment you realize that the world is constantly trying to shape your thoughts is the moment you take control.
- Question everything even the things that make you comfortable.
- - Read beyond the headline. Look for different perspectives.
- - Learn to sit with uncomfortable truths instead of reacting emotionally.
The old man at the gym was right critical thinking is dying. But it doesn’t have to be dead. The real question is: Are you willing to do the work to bring it back?
