How the internet is changing your brain

How the internet is changing your brain.
Imagine life without the internet. Some of us remember a time before everything was connected, but now the idea of living without smartphones, maps, and search engines at our fingertips seems completely alien. Our increasing reliance on the online world is affecting us in many ways: it changes our relationships, alters our sources of information, and transforms how we interact with each other. These shifts are even having noticeable effects on our brains. As more devices depend on the internet, global access is continually increasing. In 2016, an estimated 3.5 billion people worldwide accessed online services. The top three countries were China with 721 million users, followed by India, and then the US with 290 million users. The most common language used online is English, followed by Chinese and Spanish. Our dependence on the internet is significant and growing.
The use of technology varies significantly across generations. Those who had to adapt to new technology and those who grew up with it readily accessible show distinct patterns. Generation X, born between the mid-1960s and early 1980s, logged an average of 110 minutes of mobile internet usage each day. In contrast, Millennials, born from the early 1980s onward and who grew up with the internet, averaged 185 minutes per day. Social media and messaging apps have become crucial for how we live and communicate, with over a billion people regularly using apps like WhatsApp, and even more using platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.
As internet use increases, our behavior changes accordingly. Communication through these platforms has become more common, leading to a decline in phone calls and text messages. The rise of online shopping and services has also caused a sharp decline in the use of traditional high street stores, transforming the look of our towns and cities compared to a few decades ago. This shift can be attributed to the availability of online resources. With such a wealth of information at our fingertips, how is all this affecting our brains?
The prevalence of the internet Is changing the way we work. Millennials, for example, have been found to be far more forgetful than previous generations. This is thought to be a direct result of the constant distractions that connectivity brings. The basic principle behind memory is that the more a piece of information is repeated and thought about in your short-term memory, the stronger it is stored within your long-term memory. However, constant new information prevents this process from taking place as effectively, resulting in less information being permanently stored.
Additionally, knowing that information is readily available online makes you less likely to form a memory of it. For example, while previous generations would have memorized directions on a map, there is now a reliance on accessing GPS apps. We are also becoming more addicted to our smartphones, with constant glances to check for messages or updates. This habit of being distracted means our brains are less used to transitioning into deeper modes of thinking, making it more difficult to do so when needed.
Research has shown that the constant flow of information has led to a loss of cognitive control. This means our ability to control our minds and decide what to think about is reducing. The more you rely on your phone and apps to provide information, the less able you are to determine what is important to focus on. We are increasingly concerned with new information rather than what is actually important.
So, what can be done? Although technology is clearly affecting the way our brains work, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Throughout history, inventions have always enabled us to focus less on one thing so our time can be used elsewhere. For example, washing machines mean that people spend far less time cleaning clothes, allowing these extra hours to be taken up by work or other activities. Similarly, the ability to communicate and find information much faster on the internet means we have extra mental capacity for other processes.
However, reducing screen time can help keep our brains more active and malleable. It’s a good idea to be aware of how much time you spend on distractions each day. My advice is to keep track of your screen time and unplug every once in a while.