Are we becoming smarter or dumber because of the Internet?

The impact of the Internet on our intelligence is a complex issue, as it depends on how we use it. It can make us wiser when used for research and learning.

I would say that smart people become smarter with the help of the Internet, and dumb people become dumber.

Based on how we use it though.

People are increasingly polarized; while some are advancing intellectually, others appear to be falling behind. The vast amount of information available on the internet can be both a boon and a curse. Whether we get smarter... or the opposite... depends on how we choose what we consume.

for me it's neither one nor the other because it all depends on the person using it. for me the internet does not make you more intelligent but allows you to learn more quickly.

Definitely more stressed and less focused...

It all depends on how you use it. The mayority of people dumber, some of us smarte!

Both at the same time :D

probably shorts are making people dumber more than they are helping them get smarter.

I believe the internet has made me smarter and opened up limitless opportunities. Especially now with the advent of generative AI, being able to research any topic and get a summary in a few seconds makes me more knowledgeable on many different things. However, on the flip side, I do see an increase in shorter attention spans and more impatience among people (especially Gen Z) who are heavy users of platforms like TikTok. Guess it all depends on what you want to get out of the internet. As with everything, there are always two or more sides.

Heavily depends who's using it and the intentions the person has. It has huge potentials to make you smarter, but the problem is, it's way more comfortable to just be entertained and potentially dumb down

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Depends on how we use it. Those who only use it for fun are not the same as those who use if for learning stuff.

I don't think that's a best way to frame the question, I feel like the Internet and tech in general helps to speed up data input and output, what type of data is up to the user..

We know a bunch of useless stuff...and have lost the ability to meaningfully slow down and connect with others. It has become an epidemic. People have been a lot unhappier since the Internet came out because it also brought social media with it.

The impact of the Internet on human intelligence and knowledge is a complex and debated topic. It's important to note that the effects can vary widely depending on how individuals use the Internet and what they engage with online. https://thehoruseye.net/

Hey there! This is such an interesting topic to discuss. Personally, I believe that the impact of the Internet on our intelligence is a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, we have access to an immense amount of information at our fingertips, which can definitely make us more knowledgeable. However, the downside is that it can also make us more reliant on quick answers and less inclined to think critically or deeply analyze complex issues. What are your thoughts on this? Have you come across any studies or articles that explore this topic in depth? I'd love to hear more perspectives on this!

Access to all the information could increase your productivity when learning. On the other hand, it could lead to laziness, because the stuff become so more accessible. As some of the folks here stated - It really depends on the person.

At a global aggregate level, I'd say we're definitely smarter as a species because of the Internet. Without Internet, communication would have been way more limited and a very large amount of people would not have had access to all the information & tools that the Internet provides - and hence would have remained in the dark metaphorically. Having said that, there are definitely instances where I feel I'm getting dumber because of either misinformation or half-baked knowledge (partial knowledge is worse than ignorance). Additionally, when you rely on the Internet (or tech in general) for certain things, your cognitive power argually goes down a bit (a simple example would be, after relying on auto-spell-correction, you start forgeting how to spell certain words! Lol!)