Smartphones might be weakening our intellects as our brains grow more dependent on the devices. Beyond providing endless distractions through entertainment and constant communication, even suppressing the desire to check our phones has been found to debilitate our ability to think. It seems that even as access to information grows, gadgets hinder learning.
From the Wall Street Journal:
Read Full Article »But even in the history of captivating media, the smartphone stands out. It is an attention magnet unlike any our minds have had to grapple with before. Because the phone is packed with so many forms of information and so many useful and entertaining functions, it acts as what Dr. Ward calls a “supernormal stimulus,” one that can “hijack” attention whenever it is part of our surroundings—which it always is. Imagine combining a mailbox, a newspaper, a TV, a radio, a photo album, a public library and a boisterous party attended by everyone you know, and then compressing them all into a single, small, radiant object. That is what a smartphone represents to us. No wonder we can't take our minds off it.
