Is Google Making Us Stupid?
The question, while basic, is very valid. With the internet, information is literally within the reach of our fingers. We can instantly access information day or night, as long as we can get to the internet.
The idea that our minds should operate as high-speed data-processing machines is not only built into the workings of the Internet, it is the network’s reigning business model as well. The faster we surf across the Web-the more links we click and pages we view-the more opportunities Google and other companies gain to collect information about us and to feed us advertisements.
Link: Is Google Making Us Stupid?
I do not think that the fault of our increasing stupidity is at the fault of Google. However, I think that certain websites are contributing to our decreasing intelligence. Google is simply a means of showing us the information we have available to us. By doing a search on Google, you are not required to look at the first option; in fact it is not always the best option.
You are more than encouraged to search through the results that Google gives to you. Look for the URLs that look credible (those ending in .edu are amongst the top). On the other hand, Wikipedia is at the top of almost every Google search; however it is probably the worst resource for anything academic. Why is this you ask? Well, any regular Joe can create a Wikipedia account and change the information on the Wikipedia entry.
I have had professors in the past who purposely change the information on Wikipedia in attempt to fool students who only look in one spot for information. Verifying information on the internet is one of the best things you can do to ensure credibility. If you can find the same information in more than one location; you have a better change of it being valid.
Google is not at fault for our increasing stupidity. If the blame has to be placed on a website, place it on Wikipedia.
Justin
Tags: credibility, Google, information, intelligence, Internet, stupidity, web, Wikipedia
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