ipl-logo

Does The Internet Make You Dumber By Nicholas Carr Summary

987 Words4 Pages

Has internet use throughout the decade become destructive to today’s society? Will the continuous use of electronic devices alter humans' cognitive functions? All these questions have been asked by millions of researchers, with the rise of new technological advancements. In Nicholas Carr’s article, “Does the Internet Make You Dumber”, he provides several findings, of what he believes the Internet is causing society to evolve. The issue he hopes to address is the need to reevaluate the necessity of internet use, as it is slowing down humans' capacity to store and retrieve information, and is essentially making people less intelligent. Here, Carr emphasizes that all members of society have been caught up in the realm of addiction with the use …show more content…

As he introduces the argument, Carr falls into the logical fallacy of false cause, when he emphasizes that there is a cause-and-effect relationship when looking at a human's ability to stay focused as a result of the internet. Readers can see this through the quote, “We’re constantly distracted and interrupted, as we tend to be online” (Carr 2). Here, Carr is implying that phone usage is causing humans to be distracted and therefore making the claim that the internet should be used far less. However, Carr does not keep in mind the millions of new technological software being built to reduce the amount of interruptions when working with the internet. For example, over the past decades, tools have been designed to help users be more productive. Such tools can be app timers, focus tracking apps, screen management, etc. All of these new apps will help the user create a more fruitful and productive agenda to complete the tasks, as they will be far less interrupted. Altogether, Carr fails to address new technological advancements that could refute his …show more content…

Carr mainly emphasizes the cognitive determinants that technology can bring for an average person. However, Carr does not seem to have created an argument for the effectiveness of being off the internet for people who are disabled or mentally ill. Within this decade, more than 1/4 of the population is made up of individuals with disorders such as ADHD or dyslexia. Keeping this in mind, they must use adaptive technology, to maximize accessibility. For example, in disorders such as ADHD, it is very difficult for a person to focus in certain environments. When it comes to the internet, however, certain adaptations help individuals better grasp information compared to using traditional ways of learning. Features such as text-to-speech, highlighted text, and AI assistance can provide support and improve learning outcomes. These adaptations create a more conducive learning environment and enable individuals with ADHD to better engage with the content. Similarly, individuals with dyslexia can benefit from friendly fonts, learning platforms, and online communities available on the internet. These resources can result in the strengthening of cognitive skills, such as the improvement of the attention span or logical

Show More
Related
1679 Words | 7 Pages

In his essay Is Google Making Us Stupid, Nicholas Carr argues that our dependence on the Internet changes the way we read and think. He includes his own personal testimony to support this claim, as well as others’ descriptions, including several friends, and bloggers that Carr quote. While he lacks scientific proof supporting his claim, multiple testimonies support his claim that the internet has changed the way people think. However, Carr views this negatively, saying that “I’m not thinking the way I used to think… my concentration often starts to drift… I feel as if I’m always dragging my wayward brain back to the text” (633-634).

Read More
501 Words | 3 Pages

Carr explains that because our brains are constantly changing, the technology we use has an effect on us. He uses the invention of the clock as an example. It caused us to rely on time to tell us when to do things instead of our senses. The author writes the many tools being replaced by the internet now include various distractors. He has noticed that the influence of the internet has extended into traditional media, which has become shorter to rival the convenience of the internet.

Read More
351 Words | 2 Pages

In the article entitled "Is Google Making Us Stupid" , the author Nicholas Carr reviews how our use to the computer effected our thoughts and our reading habits. (Carr, 2008, July). I both agree and disagree with Carr's statements and point of view. I agree with the author that the internet clashed our concentration, but i disagree that its making us stupid. I agree with Carr that people who use the internet frequently tend to loose their concentration and have a lack of contemplation where he supported this by personal experience and studies.

Read More
471 Words | 2 Pages

He notes that the development of writing and the printing press led to significant changes in the way people thought and communicated. By comparing the internet to these historical developments, Carr suggests that the digital age is simply the latest iteration in a long line of technological advances that have fundamentally altered human cognition. In addition, Carr appeals to expert testimony to support his argument. He cites studies and quotes from prominent neuroscientists and researchers who suggest that the internet may be negatively impacting our ability to concentrate and process information.

Read More
1466 Words | 6 Pages

Carr could have not said it any better, “what the Net seems to be doing is chipping away at my capacity for concentration and contemplation.” It has immobilized my ability to think on my own and read in-depth. Once again, technology has wiggled its way back into my life. Since reading this article, I have caught myself becoming dependent on the Internet. If I ever have questions,I automatically take out one of my devices and look up the question.

Read More
522 Words | 3 Pages

Is Google making us stupid? Nicholas Carr, author and writer, asserts that today's fascinations with everything online is changing the ability of society to think independently. Is it fair to assume that the entirety of internet users will be less intelligent based on ease of access? The argument Nicholas Carr presents in "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" is slightly flawed because of his lack of strong evidence, yet it is intriguing from the highly debatable assertion and historical viewpoints. The main evidence Carr uses to prove the internet is changing people's minds is that of the research conducted at University College London.

Read More
699 Words | 3 Pages

Comparative Analysis In a world of rapid technological advancements, the use of technology has become a presence found everywhere. Many smart devices and large screens of bright lights have engulfed the human population, including day-to-day living. However, there have been conflicting reports on whether or not the influence of technology is a benefit to human knowledge or a detriment to it and the remnants of traditional learning. In the article, “Is Google Making Us Stupid,” author Nicholas Carr insists that the use of technology and specifically the internet can alter the brain’s neurology, which in turn can lead to negative side effects on the body. On the other hand, in the article, “The ‘Google’ Paradox: Is Technology Making Us Smarter,”

Read More
718 Words | 3 Pages

the use of technology is extending radically. " Is Google Making Us Stupid?" By Nicholas Carr talks about how technology is negatively effecting our brains. This article begins by discussing how the Internet is an tool we can use for just about anything. In result, we are getting to be indigent upon it in things like to expand work profitability, writing, and reading.

Read More
447 Words | 2 Pages

I'm considered to be a millennial and I can honestly say that I've grew up with the privilege of having technology. The internet makes it very easy for us to interact with friends or family and doing research you can even read your favorite books on the web. When watching the video "Is the Internet Making Us Stupid", it pointed out a lot of things I've never thought of before. Nicholas Carr's view on the issue is that the internet is simply a distraction. "When we have new technology that gathers information or communicate for us it changes the way we think", he's implying that our devices we use on a day to day basis, does everything for us we rely more on that then actually relying on our brain to do the work.

Read More
1991 Words | 8 Pages

Nicolas Carr, an acclaimed writer in both business and technology, argues in “"Is Google Making Us Stupid?” published in 2008, that the internet is altering the way humans focus. In his article, Carr states “Now my concentration often starts to drift after two or three pages” (Carr). Using first person personal experience this permits readers to presuppose that everyone is justly and effortlessly exposed to the impacts of the internet. Additionally accrediting himself, a prosperous and educated writer, Carr adds reliability and support towards his argument demonstrating that a literate, knowledgeable man can be susceptible to the effects of the internet. Scientific studies have been done which support the theory that the internet is deteriorating

Read More
508 Words | 3 Pages

Society's perception of the world has changed as a result of the new options provided by digital technology. In his book The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to our Brains, Harvard-educated writer Nicholas Carr analyzes how contemporary technologies are affecting how people think. He offers insight into the psychological ramifications of each technological advancement throughout history and how culture has influenced how society goes about its daily business. In order to demonstrate how negatively digital technology is affecting our brains, he contrasts its impacts with those of earlier technologies like reading, writing, books, and calculators. Due to their over-reliance on the internet, people have allowed themselves to become cognitively

Read More
271 Words | 2 Pages

Nicholas Carr, What the Internet is doing to Our Brains The Shallows (2010) asserts that, “The price we pay to assume technology’s power is alienation.” He supports this assertion by saying, “They both ultimately achieve their mental and behavioral effects by shaping the synaptic organization of the brain.” Also by, “ We long to keep it activated.” The writer concludes in order for people to improve their thoughts, they will have to cope with the new technology and how they think. Carr believes that technology is taking over how people interact with each other.

Read More
791 Words | 4 Pages

A technological wave has approached us and that wave is known as the Internet. In the recent years, the use of the Internet has increased tremendously as many people use it for numerous reasons. Research that once required days now can be done in minutes. However, some people worry that tool is not benefiting our lives, but is rather making us “stupid.” An American writer, Nicholas Carr, is one of these advocates who believes the Internet is making our mind mush.

Read More
434 Words | 2 Pages

Our way of thinking is beginning to change to the way that computers do. Advancements are made everyday. These new advancements are attempting to make life in general easier for everyone. Nicholas Carr makes the claim that, “as the internet because our primary source of the information it is affecting our ability to read books and other long narratives.” Carr suggests that using the internet is altering the way that our minds operate.

Read More
1004 Words | 5 Pages

Nicholas Carr's argument against the internet was very strong, and it persuaded me. It is very difficult for me to go against his opinion. I agree that the internet is changing us, but not in ways we think. There are long-term effects of using the internet as often as we do. He states that the internet is changing the way our brains function such as having a shorter attention span, negatively changing the way we critically think, and negatively changing our reading skills.

Read More

More about Does The Internet Make You Dumber By Nicholas Carr Summary

Open Document