In his article titled “Is Google Making us Stupid,” Nicholas Carr examines the potential impact of the internet on our cognitive abilities. Carr shares his personal experiences and beliefs regarding the internet’s effects on the brain, noting the changes he has observed over time. However, is change necessarily negative? Could it be viewed as an evolutionary process, enabling adaptation to a constantly shifting world? With our current dependence on computers, gadgets, and the internet, it is logical that our information processing methods would evolve and develop to adapt to these conditions.
The article begins by quoting a movie scene where a man and a supercomputer interact, with the supercomputer being portrayed as losing its mind after almost harming its companion. The writer supports the idea of a parasitic relationship between humans and computers, and Carr subsequently transitions from discussing the movie plot to introducing his article. The writer’s main point is that his mind is not deteriorating, but rather evolving, as illustrated by his change in reading habits over time.
Carr depicts his former reading habits with a tender language, reminiscent of romance, but confesses that his attention span has diminished. The internet evokes conflicting emotions in Carr, as he both loves and hates it. He openly acknowledges spending significant time online, browsing the web effortlessly to find the exact words he desires. Carr showcases his extensive knowledge of the internet and various streaming platforms, mentioning blog posts, podcasts, and the proper utilization of hyperlinks. Despite the initial tone set by his title, the author highlights the benefits of having “instant access to an incredibly abundant reserve of information”.
Despite his apparent love for the vast amount of information available to him online, he acknowledges the negative aspects it brings. One drawback is the impact it has on his ability to focus and think. His frequent use of the internet has shaped his thinking to mirror the fast-paced nature of the web, like being in a constant flow of scattered thoughts. He supports this view by discussing it with his friends, who also agree.
The correlation between internet usage and the ability to stay focused for a long period of time is higher. Another blogger, Scott Karp, also expresses his love for reading similar to Carr. He agrees that the internet has altered the way we think and process information. They further mention that the internet has greatly impacted Karp, to the point where he has nearly completely lost the ability to comprehend lengthy articles.
The author concludes by referring back to the initial discussion in the article about a movie featuring an astronaut and a super computer. The emotional response of the computer deeply affected Carr, as it expressed sadness about losing its mind and fear, stating “I can feel it. I can feel it. I’m afraid”. He highlights that “people have become so machinelike that the most human character turns out to be a machine”. The author concludes with a thought-provoking statement, stating that as we increasingly rely on computers to shape our understanding of the world, our own intelligence becomes artificial intelligence.
I strongly agree with the writer’s statements and correlations. I also experienced a similar feeling when I was younger, getting fully immersed in books and the fantasy worlds they created. However, during that time, dial-up internet was still commonly used and Mac computers had a futuristic multicolored TV set appearance. Perhaps because my brain was already accustomed to processing information at different speeds, the impact wasn’t as significant for me as it was for Carr.
The process could adapt, considering the major advantages of the internet: its speed and access to a vast pool of information. Skimming through high volumes of information is typically quicker and more efficient, enabling users to easily extract the vital parts relevant to their search. Interestingly, despite the author’s struggle to focus for extended periods, their article is quite lengthy. Therefore, the question arises: does it render users unintelligent?
With great knowledge comes great responsibility. Everyone learns at a different rate and has preferences. However, there are still plenty of book purists who love to lounge in a nook and immerse themselves in fictional tales. The internet has not altered this basic desire, it has only changed the way it is processed. If something genuinely catches your interest, you can read hundreds of pages on the subject and still not be satisfied. But to attribute skimming long articles or not fully absorbing text solely to how the internet has trained our minds is an incomplete truth. I firmly believe that it is simply a way in which we are adapting and evolving. We should not fear it like the super computer in space fearing losing his mind; instead, we should embrace it because it is not lost but rather undergoing change.
