Summary Of Is Google Making USupid By Nicholas Carr

Is the internet the ultimate downfall of society? Many believe that this technological advancement is dumbing down civilization. Both Nicholas Carr and David Wolman have written an article on how people's lives have been affected by the use of the internet. Nicholas Carr, author of the article "Is Google Making Us Stupid?" explains how the internet is decreasing an individual's concentration and learning process. Whereas, David Wolman, author of "The Critics Need a Reboot" argues against those who believe that the internet is leading society into the “dark age”. The internet is a great tools which offers people faster communication and easier access to information. At the same time, it affects a person's concentration and ability to comprehend

Carr begins his argument by pointing out a scene from Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. He compares the supercomputers memory circuits being disconnected to his own feeling on how his brain is being reprogrammed. He goes on talking about his own experience, how he feels like his mind is changing. He can longer read lengthy articles or books and connect with what he is reading without becoming distracted. Carr mentioned that many of his acquaintances have experienced the same changes in their reading as well. He presented a study on online research habits done by the University College London. They found that people would jump from one website to another and only skimmed through the article. Nicholas Carr concludes his argument by revisiting the 2001: A Space Odyssey scene and express how the internet is converting society more machine

He refers to previous beliefs about modern technology, which were believed to have a negative effect on society. Throughout the article, David criticizes other authors who claim that that internet has led society into a dark age and led people to false information. He himself call the internet out of sarcasm the "technological bogeyman of the 21st century", to show them how foolish it sounds. He makes fun of the other authors by stating irrational conspiracy theories like vaccines cause autism or Saddam Hussein was behind the attacks of 9/11. Wolman agrees that the internet provides access to “ bogus ideas”, but states that people search for information that supports their belief. He concludes his argument by expressing his standpoint on how the internet “gives us the opportunity to become smarter, not