Dumbest Generation Dbq

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Mark Bauerlain claims Americans under 30 possess lower knowledge levels than older Americans and deems them “The Dumbest Generation”. Many agree with this statement, believing that the rise of technology and the media has resulted in intellectual shortcomings in younger generations. While technology has changed how we process and learn information, it has not lessened the intelligence of younger generations. Numerous studies have shown that technology exercises minds, provides information, and improves thinking ability. Because of the added access to information younger generations gain through innovation, they are not “the dumbest”. Research proves that younger generations are not the dumbest. Multiple studies have concluded that being immersed …show more content…

Cognitive scientists call this “fluid intelligence” because it can be applied to problems in any domain (Source 2). This evidence shows that younger people’s limited knowledge of facts (which older people think are important) reflects not dumbness or impaired abilities, but choice. Cognitive scientist Marcel Just states, “We are gradually changing from a nation of callused hands to a nation of agile brains. Insofar as new information technology exercises our minds and provides more information, it has to be improving thinking ability.” Technology has allowed young ones to access new information and strengthen their logic. In conclusion, the evidence says that kids, teenagers, and young adults are not the dumbest. Through new forms of technology and increased online activity, young people have gained various forms of technical and media literacy (Source 3) and gained real-world skills. The Digital Youth Project conducted a study of the effects of digital media on young people, and the results showed that friendship and interest-driven online activities help kids learn expression, social etiquette, and respect (Source …show more content…

For example, author Mizuko Ito states, “New media allows for a degree of freedom and autonomy for youth that is less apparent in a classroom setting. Youth respect one another’s authority online, and they are often more motivated to learn from peers than adults.” In addition, Source 2 states, “Their efforts are also largely self-directed, and the outcome emerges through exploration.” Therefore, students also gain independence and confidence to explore new media. The study of the Digital Youth Project demonstrated that advancing tech has opened new opportunities for youth learning. How could these generations be the dumbest if they constantly absorb information and strengthen new skills? Experts say younger people have opened the door for a literacy revolution, and that those generations have learned important writing skills. To demonstrate, Andrea Lunsford, a professor at Stanford University who organized a project to scrutinize college students’ prose, said, “I think we’re in the midst of a literacy revolution the likes of which we haven’t seen since Greek civilization” (Source

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