The title features the name of the book by Michel Desmurget, a neurobiologist and research director at the National Health Institute of France, about the negative impact of gadgets on children’s abilities.
In an interview with BBC, Desmurget, who has worked at MIT and the University of California, discusses the impact of gadgets on IQ. He refers to the recorded fact that the intellectual development quotient of youth has decreased over the last two decades.
In successful countries, intelligence is deteriorating
The scientist discusses the “Flynn effect” — a well-known scientific fact of the continuous increase in the intelligence quotient of humanity. He says that lately, science observes the opposite trend in some countries, primarily in those where social and economic life has been stable for many years.
“The so-called ‘digital natives’ — the first children whose IQ is lower than their parents. This trend has been recorded in Norway, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, France, and many other countries.”
There are many factors that affect IQ, including medicine, nutrition, schooling, environmental pollution, and the impact of gadgets, among others. According to Desmurget, science has not yet been able to precisely determine the role of each factor. However, it is well known that even considering other circumstances, screen time significantly affects the deterioration of IQ. Several studies have proven that the more time a child spends with smartphones, TVs, or video games, the stronger the negative impact on IQ and cognitive abilities. Memory, concentration, language, and cultural level, which help understand the surrounding reality, deteriorate.
How exactly gadgets affect children
The scientist explains the mechanism of the impact of digital devices. Cognitive abilities develop better in the process of live communication. Brain neurons react much less if information comes not from a person but from a screen.
“If you tell a small child the name of a color, for example, ‘green,’ three times in a row, they will learn this word. If they hear the same word from a screen, according to various studies, it takes the child twenty to sixty times to learn a new word for them … Children who learn to write on a computer using a keyboard have more difficulty memorizing and recognizing letters than those who learn with a hand, pencil, and sheet of paper.”
Other factors also affect development. For example, when a child uses gadgets, they move less. The blue light from the screen worsens sleep.
Slowing down brain development
Characteristics of the human brain depend on its experiences. Factors such as work, environment, and problems that need solving change its functioning and structure. This happens through the creation and strengthening of some neural connections and the loss of others. Not every activity effectively develops the brain.
“Scientists have noticed: time spent in front of the screen for entertainment purposes delays the anatomical and functional maturation of the brain in areas associated with language and attention … Education, intellectual work, reading, music, art, sports — all these significantly better structure and nourish the brain than screens.”
The brain is incredibly plastic and suitable for development in childhood and adolescence. Over time, it ‘hardens,’ i.e., becomes less suitable for change. ‘Screens’ slow down brain development during the most productive period for this.
Do children need to use technology?
Michel Desmurget is far from a general denial of the ‘digitalization’ of society. He actively uses digital tools and teaches his daughter how to use them. The scientist is convinced that school students should acquire basic computer skills, and digital technologies effectively help teachers.
However, the most frequent use of ‘screens’ is for entertainment. Television, movies, series, and other videos. Also, games and social networks “where insane senseless self-affirmation prevails.” The scientist believes that children spend too much time with all this.
“Two-year-olds spend nearly three hours a day on average, eight-year-olds about five, teenagers over seven hours. This means that by the age of 18, our children will have spent 30 school years or 16 working years in front of screens, working full-time! This is simply madness and irresponsibility.”
Until six years old, the scientist recommends completely avoiding screen use for children. Perhaps occasionally (not non-stop) watching cartoons with the child. He advises completely avoiding gadgets in the morning before school, in the evening before bed, during communication with people. Also, no screens should be in the bedroom.
“Research shows that, contrary to popular belief, they are not very good at using computers. A report by the European Union explains that low digital competence hinders the implementation of educational technologies in schools. These children also do not cope well with processing and understanding the vast amount of information available online.”
The researcher states that in fact, children are only better at what they are directly engaged in: using apps, watching movies, and listening to music, buying products online, etc. He compares their ‘development’ to the inhabitants of Aldous Huxley’s ‘Brave New World’: “Intoxicated with senseless entertainment, devoid of language, unable to think, they are absolutely satisfied with their lives.”
Should the use of gadgets be banned?
Michel Desmurget is not an advocate of bans. He does not want anyone to tell him or other parents how to raise their children. However, the information that parents receive about gadgets should be “honest and complete.”
The scientist considers it appropriate to conduct open information campaigns, especially with clear theses: “no gadgets until six years old, then no more than 30-60 minutes a day.”
Forecast
If the ‘digital orgy’ does not stop, Desmurget sees consequences similar to Huxley’s novel. Some groups of the population will avoid the negative impact and have all the necessary tools to make adequate conclusions in life. However, most will not be able to become ‘educated citizens.’ The first, the so-called ‘alphas,’ will study in expensive schools with real teachers. Others will receive limited skills with limited human participation, as well as basic technical skills.
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“It will be a sad world in which, as sociologist Neil Postman said, they will amuse themselves to death. A world in which, thanks to constant and exhausting access to entertainment, they will learn to love their servitude. Sorry for the pessimism. Maybe (and I hope so), I am wrong. But what we are doing with our children and how we are jeopardizing their future and development, there is simply no excuse.”
“Cause I’m a 21st century digital boy, I don’t know how to live, but I’ve got a lot of toys”, Bad Religion
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