Washington, USA. Test results show that the youngest generation has poorer cognitive abilities than any previous generation.
In 2002, Maine became the first US state to begin a nationwide rollout of laptops in schools. The idea was to empower students by giving them access to a wider range of information through the internet. Many other states followed Maine’s lead. In 2024, the US spent more than 30 billion dollars on equipping schools with laptops and tablets.
However, there is now evidence suggesting that the plan to improve young people’s education through digital technology is not entirely successful. On the contrary, this year neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath testified before the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation that the generation born between 1995 and 2012, also known as Gen Z or Digital Natives, has weaker cognitive abilities than previous generations. As evidence, Horvath cited the results of standardized tests used to assess and compare cognitive abilities such as memory, attention span, problem-solving skills, language processing, as well as creative and critical thinking in young people. He stated that international comparisons revealed a direct correlation between poorer test results and a higher screen time. The invention and proliferation of smartphones and social media have only accelerated this trend, Horvath argued. He emphasized that his intention is not to reject digital technology per se. Rather, politicians and educators must ensure that new educational tools support the processes of human learning, instead of obstructing it. Some schools are now taking action, at least regarding the use of smartphones during lessons. In many places, their use is prohibited or limited by rules.
Source Fortune
Translation Paula Boslau
Image Thomas Park
