New technologies, such as the Internet and Google, have become a major part of people’s lives. There has been an increase in the dependance on the Internet for new information, social media, and communication. What do you use the Internet for? How has the Internet been beneficial to you? Many people have opposing opinions about how the Internet has shaped and affected human cognitive abilities. The main argument made by Thompson is that the vast increase in public writing inspired by the Internet is an important, new, beneficial change for individuals and for society. Whereas, Carr makes the argument that the Internet is hindering human cognitive abilities, such as their ability to concentrate. I personally believe that there are true factors in each author’s arguments. I will further analyze each author’s belief and provide my own opinion on the topic of how the Internet affects human thinking.
Clive Thompson is the author of the article, “Public Thinking.” In his article, Thompson’s main purpose is to answer the underlying question of “how has the evolution of public writing affected and influenced people’s thinking?” His main argument is that the Internet and new digital technologies are beneficial to people and society. People believe that it has profound cognitive, cultural, and political implications. In many ways, the Internet has been advantageous to human thinking and writing abilities. Thompson provides various claims that support this argument such as that the new forms of digital writing significantly improves writing and thinking. The increase in writing due to digital technology has helped clarify thinking, generate ideas, and improve memory, according to Thompson. The increase also advances democracy and civil society. The new forms of writing expand connections and improve the social networks that support research. Thompson also claims that this new digital medial is creating a golden age for literacy because students are reading and writing more than in the past which results in better writers and improved thinking patterns. He introduces quotes from professional writers, provides anecdotes, and brings up research studies to support his claim. The arguments made by Thompson prove to be effective through his sub claims that are easily relatable to others.
Through his article, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” Carr gives an explanation of why he believes that the Internet is only negatively affecting human cognition and is detrimental to human concentration and contemplation. Carr uses personal experiences, scientific research, and past events to make his argument effective. He believes that people have become heavily reliant on the Internet and that it is hindering humans’ abilities to let the brain evolve. Instead of allowing people to use their own thought process to come up with possible answers or ways of reasoning, the Internet gives people all of the answers. Many people have stopped questioning things and have stopped thinking for themselves. Carr even admits that the Internet has become his main source of retrieving information. Carr brings up the blogger, Bruce Friedman, and Friedman introduces the idea that because of how times have changed and the dependance on the Internet, many people have lost the ability to read and absorb long articles or pieces of writing. As a result, people have turned to “a form of skimming activity.” Carr’s use of personal anecdotes and experiences of other helps make his argument more effective because these accounts have also been experienced by many other people.
There is some truth to both of the arguments made by Thompson and Carr. I agree with Thompson when he states that the Internet can help to generate new ideas and can inform people on things that they did not know before, and I also agree with Carr when he states that because of the influence of the Internet, people’s brains are being hindered from evolving and humans are becoming unable to concentrate.Though these authors have stated some insightful reasons behind the effects of the Internet on human cognition, I think they are forgetting to realize that these factors only play a part depending on how and how much people use the Internet. The determining factor of how and how people use the Internet is a key aspect of how people are affected by these digital technologies. The amount of time spent using the Internet and the reasons why the Internet is being used ultimately makes the difference when determining both the positive and negative affects. If people limited their use and did not abuse the conveniences and aids of the Internet then maybe the negative affects stated by Carr would not occur. If people allowed their brain to analyze and contemplate information and situations then the Internet would not be needed as much. Allowing the brain to analyze things for itself would also allow the brain to evolve and retain new information. I believe that if people stopped taking advantage of what the Internet offers and used it during appropriate times, then the Internet could be a helpful and positive source of information and entertainment. Because of the heavy reliance on the Internet, the view of what the Internet has to offer is being turned into a negative connotation. I have personally experienced both sides of the argument of how the Internet affects human cognition. I feel like my thinking has been enhanced and broadened after reading digital writings. I have learned things that I did not know about before and I gained that information from texts that I have read online. I have also been writing and reading more since the most common texts that I read are found online on social media sites. I have also experienced the drawbacks of using the Internet too often. I feel like my memory has been hindered due to the use of the Internet because I do not have to memorize many things. My ability to concentrate has also been diminished. I have never been a big fan of reading, therefore, I can relate to Carr’s claim that people are no longer able to read long pieces of writing without getting distracted. Especially because of the all of the different aspects of the Internet, it is easy for me to get distracted or to loose concentration because I am thinking about somethings else that I could be doing on the Internet. I have also limited my brain’s abilities by always turning to the Internet for answers. Instead of allowing my brain to analyze information and come up with ideas on its own, I turn to the Internet for answers.
There has become a heavy reliance on the Internet over the years due to all of the new things that become available and it affects people in different ways. Different people have various opinions about how these new digital technologies are affecting human cognition. For example, Thompson believes that the Internet has been beneficial and has a positive affect on human thinking. He argues that the Internet helps clarify thinking, generate new ideas, and improve memory. Whereas, Carr believes that the Internet limits human thinking and diminishes people’s ability to concentrate. There is validity in both author’s arguments, and I have personally experienced many of the things they are saying happens from using the Internet. It is true that the Internet can teach people things that they did not know before and that it can hinder people’s ability to concentrate, but all of these things are solely dependent on why and how much people use the Internet. People should be turning to the Internet as a useful source and not abusing what it has to offer.
