Argumentative Essay: Does Google Make Us Ignorant?

Nicholas Carr’s Atlantic essay Is Google Making Us Stupid

Nicholas Carr’s Atlantic essay Is Google Making Us Stupid explores how information programming has had a major effect on our cognitive ability. Carr describes his own experience and emotions by saying that \u201csomething was playing around with his consciousness, draining his memory and neuronal brain\u201d (Carr 6). Since he began using the Internet for analysis, his methods have evolved. Carr said in the article that prior to the advent of the Internet on computers, he would devote his time to lengthy posts, long periods of time, and so on, and books to allow his \u201cmind to be involved in the arguments and discussions that were in the texts he was reading\u201d (Carr 7).

Difficulties in Concentrating on Texts

Today, Carr has realized that he faces difficulties of focusing on the texts, especially after going through several pages, he forgets the previous texts. Carr\u2019s assumption is that his online research and online writing must be the reason as to why he experiences such difficulties in concentrating on the texts. Carr explains that his fellow friends and writers are facing similar changes when reading their books and trying to maintain concentration. Some of his friends illustrate that their difficulties in reading books are a result of shorter concentration and focus. Carr\u2019s assumption according to his online article is that the Internet and Google have changed how the human brain functions. If speaking about Carr\u2019s assumption, there are both strengths and weaknesses. First, Carr acknowledges the Internet and Google for making work easier for the brain; secondly, he uses data to communicate a different point by illustrating how his friends and fellow writers are facing problems in reading books and long paragraphs because of shorter concentration and focus. He blames the Internet and Google assuming that the ten years of online writing and online research are the reason for poor concentration on the books. His claims are not supported by references or further studies, apart from using his small group which might be composed of friends with similar stress levels, education, and career. Therefore, I will disagree with Carr\u2019s assumption in his essay that Google makes us stupid and instead prove using research reference that Google does not make us stupid.

Google Does Not Make Us Stupid

Google does not make us stupid. In my opinion, Carr is not entirely convincing using a handful of friends and colleagues as references in the article. Instead, demographic, psychographic, and other factors should be considered on a variety of people for such a statement to be true. Additionally, there are no behavioral and biological studies conducted by Carr to prove that changes occur in the chemistry or the neurological part of the brain. In his article, he states that \u201creports do not offer much proof, but in future, there will be long-term experiments on the psychological and neurological part of the brain to give a vivid picture of how Google and the Internet impact cognition in a negative way\u201d. Carr also suggested in his article that \u201cIn the case of any distractions, we remember, learn, and understand less\u201d (Carr 11). Most people might suggest that there is a high level of truth in such a statement. They argue that once you access Google, you have accessed the Internet, maybe, you are interested in carrying out research using the search engine or you have homework and need to use some references from the search engine. Most people find themselves shifting from their course opening a Facebook page, others turn their gaze to YouTube and end up wasting much time. Carr says that \u201cthe internet storms our brain with messages and data that cause interruptions to the thoughts in our mind\u201d (Carr 12). Now, contrastingly I agree with a Harvard professor and an experienced scientist on Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Dr. Edward Hallowell. Dr. Hallowell describes a culture based phenomenon that had induced ADD in his book known as Driven towards Distraction. According to Dr. Hallowell, the phenomenon is simply \u201ca structure of being too busy. When somebody becomes too busy, he or she becomes easily distracted, restless, irritable, frustrated, and very impulsive.\u201d In his book Driven towards Distraction, Dr. Hallowell illustrates how an induced ADD by a culture which is caused by an increased pace of modern life can create a situation that hinders a person from reading several or long passages and an increased chance of poor concentration and focus (Straker 4).

The Benefits of Google and the Internet

Google does not make us stupid. From my personal experience, I use Google a lot. Whenever I am stuck in my thoughts and need to know something, I run to the Internet and type my problem in the search engine. In fact, I do most of my research work and homework using online materials. I remember when I used to be given homework from some subjects and I would head straight to Google for help. It was not because I was stupid and could have taken my time to brainstorm and deal with the homework myself, but instead, I used the search engine to save time and learn more from Google itself by going through the sources I will have acquired from the search engine. According to Carr, \u201cour ability is not determined by how much information we gain,\u201d meaning that using Google to get information insults our intelligence because anybody can acquire information from Google (Carr 14). I agree and disagree with such remarks of Carr, it is true that anybody can obtain information from the search engine but how that information is used and displayed is what matters, and that is where our intelligence is required. Therefore, it is safe to say that Google brightens our intelligence and makes us smarter. The Internet acts a tool that enables people to be creative not just conducting mechanical research. In the previous decades, several scientists would spend most of their precious time in mathematical labs trying to crack and solve mathematical equations and calculations. The introduction of computers and scientific calculators has relieved their minds from over-thinking and, instead, has enabled them to focus more on original features of discovery. Furthermore, it is because of the Internet that the world has come together to collect and collaborate ideas, opinions, data, and experience just by using a simple computer. This type of change, not in the structure of the brain but information access, has given an average person full access to different types of information which is available on the Internet and can be retrieved anytime from anywhere.

Thinking Critically with Google

I still insist that Google does not make us stupid. According to Nicholas Carr, \u201cPeople should switch off their cell phones and computers to develop critical and literal thinking in their minds. You can use Google to search for all the facts and data, but you can never get a precise answer on Google on how to be brilliant\u201d (Carr 15). Carr\u2019s statement meant that anyone who uses the search engine to look for information might receive a similar answer as another person who uses the same search engine, but if you focus your attention on thinking you will get a reply different from the rest. I agree and disagree with Carr. First, it is true that similar answers might be obtained from the search engine, especially with the introduction of Google listing which saves time during the pursuit of a piece of information. I disagree on the fact that critical thinking will automatically result in a different answer. Sometimes critical thinking makes somebody over-think and to be obsessed, and then you realize that the answer you are looking for is hard to come by without external help. I agree with Paul King (2013), who argued that there are thoughts that can be unhealthy to the human mind, like delusional thoughts, negative thoughts, repetitive and obsessive thoughts (King 3). He also added that such type of thoughts could result in unstable brain patterns.

Conclusion

In conclusion, my opinion is that Google does not make us stupid, but I think it makes us lazy and smart at the same time by literally reading less and engaging in the less physical activity. On the other hand, information obtained from the Internet increases our ability to be smart and enthusiastic to learn about something (Straker 6). At the end of Carr\u2019s article, there is no actual scientific evidence to suggest changes in the brain circuitry. I believe that the Internet and Google have increased our ability to acquire knowledge making our brain multitask efficiently.

Works Cited

Carr, Nicholas. “Is Google Making us Stupid?” The Atlantic, July/Aug 2008, p1-11,https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/306868/ Accessed 13 April 2017.

King, Paul. ”Does Excessive Thinking of any kind have any Negative Effects on Our Brain?” April 29 2013, p1-6, https://www.quora.com/Does-excessive-thinking-of-any-kind-have-any-negative-effects-on-our-brainAccessed 13 April 2017.

Straker, Aaron. ”Is Google Making Us Stupid???” LaGuardia College, 23 Nov 2010, p1-9, http://aarons24blue.blogspot.co.ke/2010/11/is-google-making-us-stupid.html Accessed 13 April 2017.