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Essay / Analysis of the book “The Dumbest Generation” by Mark Bauerlein
In today's generation, technology has become a daily necessity. Most people use some form of technology in their daily lives. Many people see this technology as a way to expand knowledge, but others, like social critic and professor Mark Bauerlain, lament the harmful effects of technology on younger generations. In his book The Dumbest Generation, Bauerlain states that “those under thirty constitute the stupidest generation in modern history.” This statement is illogical, because it is not people who lose their intelligence and become “stupid”, but the expectations that have changed. What is considered “stupid” or important to know is constantly evolving. This generation is not less intelligent than other previous generations, they are simply growing up in a different time with different resources at their disposal. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay The word stupid is commonly used in a very negative way. When someone is called stupid, it usually means that they are incapable of performing simple tasks or answering simple questions. According to the study, Bauerlain claims that people of this generation have decreasing “intellectual habits” (Source A). This statement is not very true. People of today's modern generation are no less intelligent; they simply adapt to the changing technologies of today's world. They make full use of these modern devices and enjoy them to the fullest. Making things easier shouldn't be considered stupid. IQ scores have been increasing since the 1930s (Source B). IQ tests measure pure thinking ability, meaning that even with all the technology, we still have the ability to think for ourselves, what scientists call fluid intelligence. After all, memorizing random facts won't help you succeed in the modern world, so it shouldn't be the measure of your intelligence. Technology has actually done far more good than harm to the modern world and society. In the New Yorker cover image, we see a boy in a library, surrounded by books, but he is on a computer (Source H). The message this conveys is seen as negative, regarding the overuse of technology. But maybe he's looking for an upcoming mission. Technology is a resource that makes things much faster, and when used appropriately, it does not make a person less intelligent. Searches that once would have taken days can now be completed in minutes (Source D). People can search for things that would have taken hours to find in books, with the click of a button. This alone makes people more likely to research the things they want to know, which makes them smarter. Making things faster and more efficient doesn't make people less intelligent. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Although technology has definitely changed society and this generation, these different ways of thinking should not make this generation inferior to other generations. This new technology does not make the generation less intelligent, but makes it stronger and smarter..