Is Google making us stupid?

Is Google making us stupid?

Before addressing the question as to whether Google is making us stupid, I think it is easier to highlight some things that Google is definitely doing to society. Firstly, Google (and similar search engines) is certainly making us more efficeint. For example, a student doing research for a paper has much more information at his fingertips through Google instead of having to go to the library. Another example like researching a vacation is much easier using Google than traditional methods. Secondly, Google is definitely making us more lazy. We rely on it for so many things now; life is unimaginable without it.

Now to the main question: Is Google making us stupid. I think that there are two conflicting dynamics here. First, there is an argument that people will totally lose the ability to read books and longer articles in a traditional way due to lacking concentration. In other words, people stop thinking the way they used to think, because search engines like Google provides the answer to almost every question within seconds. Second, there is so much information available in a categorized manner that Google may actually allow people ability to learn more aboy a particular subject. One of the other arguemnts is that Google may actually make us all think and learn the same things because of the way in which Google's search algorithms categorize thinks and therefore influence our learning.

It is a very difficult question to answer. There are pros and cons to both sides of the argument. On balance, I tend to feel that the disciplined person can use Google to his/her advantage to actually make them smarter. It is the undisciplined person that will be made "stupider" by Google.