Concerns of cognition due to the internet

With all higher forms of intelligent life comes ‘Curiosity,’ a desire to know, enquire. The Internet serves instant information with efficient accuracy. Though the reliability and inexpensive access of the Internet has radically benefitted our civilization; legitimate concerns exist on the detrimental effects the Internet has on mental cognition. Nicholas Carr’s article in The Atlantic and The Wall Street Journal as well as Bobby Cole’s article in Insider Technology document concerns on the Internet’s detrimental effect on minds and cognition.

Nicholas Carr states that Internet causes division and diversion of attention. We are constantly distracted by emails, alerts, messages and Facebook notifications. This hinders our ability to focus our mind, sustain attention and concentrate. I experienced this myself while reading the Article “Is Google making us Stoopid.” Interrupted by a friend’s Facebook chat, I realized one hour later, I had completely forgotten about the article. When I returned back to read the article, I had to skim the paragraphs I had already read to get back in the flow of concentration. This is mostly the case while reading articles or books online. To prevent distraction I often print out the article I have to read. The era before the Internet, a telephone or knock on the door may have interrupted my reading. The difference between then and now is that we are connected to more people online. The probability of interruption and diversion has increased exponentially. Due to all the distractions and interruptions on the Internet our thinking capacity and power is reduced turning us into scattered and superficial thinkers. (Nicholas Carr)

Because of the Internet and virtual world, teenagers and young adults are not developing their social skills. The Internet is causing them to become more withdrawn from society leading to loneliness and depression. Research has shown that cyber bullying, bullying that takes place through technology, has