Topic > 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 everyday lives. Many people see this technology as a way to expand knowledge, but others, like social critic and professor Mark Bauerlain, mourn the harmful effects of technology on younger generations. In his book The Dumbest Generation Bauerlain states that “those under thirty constitute the dumbest generation in modern history”. This statement is illogical, because it is not people who lose intelligence and become "stupid", but expectations that have changed. What is considered “stupid” or important to know is constantly changing. This generation is no less intelligent than other generations before it, 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 Shouldn't 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 unable to perform simple tasks or answer simple questions. According to research, Bauerlain states that people of this generation have decreasing “intellectual habits” (Source A). This statement is not very true. People of today's modern generation are not less intelligent, they are simply adapting to the changing technologies of today's world. They are using these modern devices for their complete purpose and taking full advantage of them. Making things easier shouldn't be considered stupid. IQ scores have increased since the 1930s (Source B). IQ tests measure pure thinking ability, which means that despite 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 much more good than harm to the modern world and society. In the New Yorker cover image, it depicts a boy in a library, surrounded by books, but he is in front of a computer (Source H). The message this sends is seen as negative, relating to the excessive use of technology. But maybe he's doing research for an upcoming assignment. Technology is a resource that makes things much faster and, when used appropriately, does not make a person less intelligent. Research that once would have taken days can now be done in minutes (Source D). People can search for things that would have taken hours to find in books, with the simple click of a button. This alone makes people more likely to research things they want to know, making them smarter. Making things faster and more efficient doesn't make people less intelligent. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper 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 is not making the generation less intelligent, but it is making them stronger and smarter.