For teenagers fifty
years ago could not even think about what technologies await their descendants.
Computers and smartphones, tablets, video games and virtual reality, artificial
intelligence appeared. Of course, today's youth are completely immersed in this
entire digital world and spend quite a lot of time there, which is why many
parents and teachers are concerned about how modern technologies affect cognitive
development. CerebrumIQ, a leading research organization dedicated to
understanding the complexities of the brain, studied this topic to find out
whether growing up with modern technology affects a person's intelligence or
IQ.
Definition of intelligence and IQ
First, you need to
understand that we all mean the same terminology because intelligence and IQ
are a fairly broad concept. We can talk here about different cognitive
abilities. These may be problem-solving, memory, reasoning, and learning. IQ,
or intelligence quotient, is a standardized measure designed to assess these
cognitive abilities and compare a person's performance to a normative sample.
You can check your intelligence level on the cerebrum website where at the beginning you will
be asked to take the test itself. Next, you will receive a report on the
results of your answers, and also find out your strengths and weaknesses.
Having understood these two concepts, we can explore the issue of influence on
intelligence in more detail.
Technology and cognitive stimulation
One argument for the
positive impact of technology on intelligence is that it provides unprecedented
cognitive stimulation. Agree, with how much more interesting and exciting
children's learning has become thanks to educational applications, interactive
games, and online learning platforms. From the simplest examples, we can recall
puzzles, by solving which children learn to make decisions on their own and
develop logical thinking and cause-and-effect relationships. Memory games help
improve memorization. If you use such technologies wisely, you can improve
school performance. Therefore, in this case, technology has a positive impact
on intelligence.
The role of video games
Many parents often
prohibit their children from playing video games because they believe that it
is useless and the children become aggressive. But firstly, games are
different, and secondly, it is necessary to control the time spent on them -
but the games themselves are not harmful, quite the contrary. They may have
cognitive benefits. CerebrumIQ research shows that certain types of video
games, especially those that require strategic thinking, multitasking, and
quick decision-making, can improve spatial awareness, attention, and reaction
speed. For example, action games are associated with improved visual processing
and faster reaction times. If your child prefers strategic play,
problem-solving, and planning skills may improve during this time.
Digital literacy and information processing
If we compare how
competently children and the older generation, who grew up without gadgets,
behave in the digital world, we will find out that children have better digital
literacy. And this is a very important skill in the modern world. It is
important to be able to search and filter information and use it safely. Every
day we deal with huge amounts of information, and children who grow up in the
world of modern technology quickly learn to analyze this information qualitatively.
Potential negative consequences
Of course, there are
also negative aspects that we could not help but mention. Unfortunately, there
are concerns that modern technologies and volumes of information are reducing
attention spans. Remember TikTok, where videos are watched for 15 seconds - teenagers
find it difficult to concentrate on longer videos, falsely look for the essence
of what is happening, and quickly become bored. A constant stream of
notifications, messages, and multimedia content can lead to fragmented
attention and decreased ability to focus on long-term tasks. Research suggests
that excessive screen time is correlated with attention problems in children
and adolescents. Therefore, you need to monitor how much time children spend on
gadgets.
Social interaction and emotional intelligence
But there is another
area that could potentially suffer from modern technology - socialization and
emotional intelligence. Many people will be surprised why, because, on the
contrary, many applications on phones and computers are aimed at improving
interaction between people. For example, two hundred years ago, in the days of
postal mail, people could wait weeks or even months for a response from the
recipient of a letter. Nowadays, message notifications arrive on your phone
within seconds after they are sent. However, these tools can also reduce the
number of face-to-face interactions that are vital for developing social skills
and emotional intelligence. After all, with the help of gadgets, it is
difficult to comprehend the nuances of nonverbal communication, empathy, and
emotion regulation. But the good news is that you just need to spend a lot of
time communicating offline and the negative effect will be neutralized.
Conclusion
The relationship
between modern technology and intelligence is complex and multifaceted. There
are pros and cons, but we believe that a balanced approach that combines the
benefits of technology with traditional activities is the key to optimizing
cognitive development.
