After listening to this report on NPR, it’s interesting to think about the fact the Internet HAS shifted the way we think. Being that the Internet is “always on” and you can access it “whenever you want it” — the report discusses how people have adapted their way of consuming information because the Internet allows you to digest information quickly and lets you jump around to other interests easily.

In a related personal experience, this weekend I was at dinner with friends and someone mentioned that she reads an entire book once a week. I was shocked.  I told her that you could argue reading books are a “dieing pastime” for all the Millennial’s and Generation Y‘ers out there. With a book you are not able to jump to new topics that interests you quickly (like you can with email, articles, video, chat, and music online). In the end, the entire table did conclude that books will never be obsolete (which I didn’t disagree with either).

So is the internet bad for our health?  Does it negatively affect the way we think?  Based on my own personal anecdotal reasoning I would strongly disagree.   Consuming information online forces us to increase our “quality of thought”. We’ve formed daily routines (Google’ing) and adapted how we find information. Personally, I’m able to provide shorter, quicker, succinct communication (whatever it may be; phone conversations, emails, presentations, casual conversation).

That’s my take. What do you think?   Are you dumb because of the Internet?  Do you feel it’s helped or hurt you more in other areas in life?
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