Digital Technology: The Dumbest Generation

Technological advances have drastically changed the world over the past few decades. All of the information one could ever need is right at our fingertips whether it is by the use of a laptop, tablet, or cell phone. Books can be read, movies can be viewed, and factual information can be found through using the internet. This new way of receiving information is efficient and effective to a greater extent than the way of reading paper books, but others believe that instead of increasing our intelligence, it causes the opposite. Mark Bauerlein in 2008 published a book entitled The Dumbest Generation in which he suggests that current young Americans have no yearning for knowledge as in past generations, saying “...knowledge and skills haven’t kept pace, and intellectual habits that complement them are slipping.” (Source 1). But this is not the case. Although the young generation does not yearn

This technology gives people an opportunity to try new activities with others who share the same interests. In 2008, Mizuko Ito Et Al conducted a study to measure the effects of digital media on young people (Source 3). She discovered that “young people acquire various forms of technical and media literacy by exploring new interests, tinkering, and “messing around” with new forms of media” (Source 3). By collaborating with other people through media, people are able to learn what others have accomplished and correct mistakes created while “messing around” with this new technology. People are capable of learning through interacting with people from across the world and using the ideas already presented to create various forms of additional technology. The new generation gained an advantage by having this technology ready for them their entire lives and are able to accurately navigate these forms of media to learn from, which proves their