Is Google making us stupid? Essay Example

to." According to Carr's perspective, the internet has negatively impacted thinking patterns and caused a decline in intelligence.

Google has had a significant impact on students, revolutionizing their research and writing methods. Previously, students would complete their term papers without relying on Google. However, this has changed since Google's emergence. Nowadays, students no longer have to depend on physical books for studying; they can easily search for information on Google and incorporate it into their papers. Consequently, these students often prioritize finishing their assignments over critically evaluating the content they produce. Unfortunately, this change in behavior has resulted in a rise in plagiarism cases.

The presence of Google has significantly impacted children's ability to learn a wide range of subjects. This is because they have become aware that with just a simple press of the 'enter' key, they can access all the information they need. Supporting this notion is a study on how Google affects human memory, which found that 90% of the population experiences amnesia (Roberts 1). Furthermore, this research discovered that 70% of individuals do not commit their children and partners' phone numbers to memory, and many even struggle to recall their friends' home numbers. This phenomenon, commonly referred to as the Google Effect, hinders people from retaining information mentally as they rely heavily on the belief that all necessary information is just a click away. As a consequence, Google has molded people's minds in such a way that memorizing basic information becomes challenging and ultimately leads to what can be defined as stupidity. Moreover, Google alters our approach to storing information by prompting us to prioritize remembering only easily accessible data (Roberts 1). Consequently,

individuals no longer make efforts to retain information for extended periods when they know it can be effortlessly retrieved whenever required.

When searching for information, it is important to consider the types of resources used. Scholarly reviewed journals and other reputable sources are usually advised due to their reliable information. These sources are trusted because they undergo thorough research. Depending on sources like Wikipedia can be difficult as the accuracy of the information is often doubtful. Relying on incorrect information can result in missing out on crucial details, which may be perceived as foolishness. The worst case scenario occurs when individuals retain false information in their memory, only to discover later that everything they believed was incorrect.

Despite the evidence of the impact Google has had on people's lives, numerous opponents argue that it has positive effects. Imagine a world where we had to scour multiple books to find original information. This would be an arduous task for everyone, especially students. Thankfully, with Google's presence, life has become more effortless. Just a click can provide users with all the necessary details (Billout 2-3). Carr also recognizes how vital Google is in simplifying life. According to Carr, the internet has been particularly crucial for scientists who have utilized it to solve complex problems efficiently. The alteration in our brains has allowed us all to access internet databases effortlessly. Additionally, using Google also saves time, as individuals spend less time searching for important information compared to flipping through numerous books (Carr). Now, thanks to Google, everything is just a search away.

According to Paul Jones, Google is believed to have a crucial role in enhancing our problem-solving creativity and

integrative thinking. It enables us to retrieve or generate solutions more quickly, thus reducing the need for intense concentration when tackling problems like mathematical equations. By analyzing past examples, we can easily find solutions. This is a direct result of Google eliminating information scarcity. In the past, people had to purchase multiple books to access the required information (Carr 1). However, with Google's presence, obtaining information has become effortless as long as one knows how to utilize it properly and avoid plagiarism.

In conclusion, Google has made accessing information easier and more convenient, eliminating the need for struggling to find information and thus saving time. However, the significant impact of Google cannot be denied. Some argue that it has made people lazy and unable to think critically. An individual's mind is meant to solve problems and think for development, yet Google has hindered this process in certain ways. People no longer need to critically analyze the information they find, especially students who simply rely on search engine results without thoughtful analysis. As a result, some end up writing incorrect information that they believe to be true due to their lack of research. The inability of the mind to think and handle issues without relying on Google is seen as a form of intellectual weakness. Consequently, people have become dependent on Google, leading to a reduction in their cognitive abilities to retain simple information.

Work Cited

Billout, Guy. "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" The Atlantic (2008): 1-6.

Carr, Nicolas. "Is Google Making us Stupid"? The Atlantic (2008): 1-7.

Roberts, Genevieve wrote an article called "Google Effect: is technology making us stupid?" which was published in New York on 15th July 2015.