Recently, I have noticed something concerning about people: we are getting dumber. It sounds harsh, but it’s something that needs to be addressed. This is affecting everyone, and I mean everyone! While this may not be a prioritized concern compared to bigger issues, stupidity is something that will hurt the future, the present, and the past. Before you call me crazy, just hear me out.
I don’t mean to offend anyone. In fact, as embarrassing as it is to admit, I consider myself to be one of those who have become “dumber.” My knowledge is being replaced with the most brain-rotting stuff ever: flight pattern recognition, six-seven jokes, chicken stars, Clash Royale, etc. I can’t even see someone do something funny without imagining a Viggle AI deepfake of Justin Fields over it. My attention span is short, and I can’t focus anymore.
So why is this happening? Why are we becoming dumb? The drop in intellect among people this century is nothing new. In fact, a study by Northwestern University found that IQ scores among Americans surveyed dropped between 2006 and 2018. According to one of the researchers, Elizabeth Dworak, lower scores don’t mean that our mental capacity is lower. While this may be true to a certain extent, I believe that IQ doesn’t measure logical thinking, but mental capacity. I remember scrolling on social media, watching videos that were clearly jokes or misinformed, yet commenters believed every word. No one does their own research anymore, and it’s becoming clear that people would rather believe something at the surface level instead of reading into it and doing any kind of work on their own.
The part that terrifies me is that it isn’t just our generation. Grown adults are attracted to and believe misinformation in the same way that toddlers are addicted to “Cocomelon.” Fake news typically grabs attention by using emotion and pre-existing bias, similar to how “Cocomelon” grabs attention by using flashy colors and quick-paced graphics. The older generations are running the world, so they should be smart, right? But it appears this isn’t the case, and unfortunately, this issue cannot be fixed instantly. The only way is to let time take its course.
Fake news isn’t the only way people are getting dumber; there is also AI.
More and more students are relying on AI in order to finish their schoolwork, without realizing that it does nothing but harm them. First of all, AI is a tool, but not for everything. I admit, I’ve used it before, but not to cheat. The way in which AI does your assignments for you is unreliable. It can give you answers to your questions, sure, but using AI kills your mental capacity and critical thinking skills. It can finish your homework, but it can’t take your tests. And even sometimes, AI can’t even answer your questions correctly, and it can give you an answer that would make any scholar die from secondhand embarrassment.
So, how do we prevent ourselves from becoming dumb? For starters, stop scrolling. Spending all day on Instagram Reels or TikTok isn’t the proper way to consume information. Long-form content is much better for your mind, even if it’s still brain-rot, because at least your attention span doesn’t become shorter. Also, stop using AI for your schoolwork. It’s not that hard to ask a friend or teacher for help; they will always be there for you, even if it is a “stupid” question.
We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and people all have different definitions of stupidity. But especially as a young, growing student, stop doing things that are not beneficial to yourself and can only make you less knowledgeable.
