Whenever anything new is introduced to us (whether it is technology, a phenomenon, an idea or even people), we approach it with a certain degree of caution. Such is the case with the growing usage of the internet and its effect on how we think.
However, author Don Tapscott’s view differs –
The differences stem from their immersion in digital technology. By the time they’re in their 20s, the Net Generation, as I call them, will have spent more than 30,000 hours on the Internet and playing video games. This is happening at a time when their brains are particularly sensitive to outside influences, and it has changed their mental reflexes and habits, the way they learn and absorb information.
They’re more sensitive to visual icons than older people are, and they absorb more information when it’s presented with visual images than when it’s offered in straight text. This may help them be better scanners, a useful skill when
you’re confronted with masses of online information. I think they’ve learned to live in a world where they’re bombarded with information, so that they can block out the TV or other distractions while they focus on the task at hand. This is a powerful advantage in a digital environment that’s buzzing with multiple streams of information.
Is the internet is making us dumb or not? Only time shall tell.