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I wonder how much of this has to do with the way Search/Google have reprogrammed our brains in the way we generally approach and solve problems. Our internal m

I wonder how much of this has to do with the way Search/Google have reprogrammed our brains in the way we generally approach and solve problems. Our internal models of the world are changing. Youth today are overconfident in their intelligence, because anything they want to know is on their smartphone, literally at their fingertips. Older people have biases as well, and can fall down rabbit holes like Q-anon etc. Perhaps the more computers think for us, the smaller the cognitive differences between us become.

appplication 2y ago
I think about this a lot. I’ve noticed I have a much worse memory than I used to and I have rationalized this as due to not needing to retain some bit of information, but rather retaining the patterns by which any information could be re-retrieved. The simplest example of this most are familiar with would be how much worse we are at directions/recalling street names since GPS became ubiquitous.
- lazide 2y ago
  We typically remember what we need/use. When was the last time you needed to remember a street name to get somewhere?
packetlost 2y ago
> Perhaps the more computers think for us, the smaller the cognitive differences between us become. I think it's the opposite. The wealth of information on the internet is only as good as your ability to both understand and apply it, but also filter out irrelevant, misleading, and outright false content. The bell curve is still there, but it's probably moving to the right globally as nutrition and education get better. That being said, I'm very concerned with widespread manipulation via subtle propaganda. Ads are a (mostly) benign form of this, but I find it hard to believe governments aren't at least attempting it.
- lordfrito 2y ago
  I suggest subtle propaganda has already taken over the internet.. I noticed a tonal shift around 2010 or so, something felt off... the old internet died at that point. It's never felt right since, and I take everything... everything I read with a grain of salt.

appplication 2y ago

I think about this a lot. I’ve noticed I have a much worse memory than I used to and I have rationalized this as due to not needing to retain some bit of information, but rather retaining the patterns by which any information could be re-retrieved. The simplest example of this most are familiar with would be how much worse we are at directions/recalling street names since GPS became ubiquitous.

lazide 2y ago
We typically remember what we need/use. When was the last time you needed to remember a street name to get somewhere?

packetlost 2y ago

> Perhaps the more computers think for us, the smaller the cognitive differences between us become. I think it's the opposite. The wealth of information on the internet is only as good as your ability to both understand and apply it, but also filter out irrelevant, misleading, and outright false content. The bell curve is still there, but it's probably moving to the right globally as nutrition and education get better. That being said, I'm very concerned with widespread manipulation via subtle propaganda. Ads are a (mostly) benign form of this, but I find it hard to believe governments aren't at least attempting it.

lordfrito 2y ago
I suggest subtle propaganda has already taken over the internet.. I noticed a tonal shift around 2010 or so, something felt off... the old internet died at that point. It's never felt right since, and I take everything... everything I read with a grain of salt.