Summarised by Centrist
Arezki Amiri, writing for The Daily Galaxy, points to a series of studies revealing that attention spans are shortening, problem-solving skills are weakening, and reading habits are collapsing.
“Are we really getting dumber, or is this a sign of a deeper shift in how we think and process information?” he asks.
Many blame part of the trend on changes in media consumption. “Prolonged exposure to screens makes it harder to concentrate and retain information,” Amiri notes, suggesting that the digital age may be rewiring brains in ways that limit deep thinking and sustained focus.
Data from the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future study and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) show cognitive skills falling sharply, particularly among teens and young adults.
A National Endowment for the Arts survey found that only 37.6 percent of Americans read a novel or short story in 2022 – a steep decline from a decade ago.
The problem is not limited to the United States. OECD studies reveal that adults worldwide are struggling with basic literacy and numeracy skills. A 2023 report showed 34 percent of American adults now score at the lowest levels of numeracy — a significant rise from previous years.
Amiri argues that easy access to online information may encourage surface-level understanding rather than deep intellectual engagement. “Many individuals may find it less necessary to engage in deep thinking,” he writes, warning that this shift could have lasting consequences for future generations.
