Recent research shows that human intelligence is sadly going down. Studies from the Financial Times, the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future, and PISA say that teens and young adults all over the world are losing their ability to focus, think deeply, and solve problems. Since the mid-2010s, these thinking problems have slowly increased, and they got worse after schools had to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tests from around the world show that young people are having more trouble with their brains working well.
Other studies say this problem happens because fewer people read books and more people use screens like phones and tablets a lot. In 2022, only 37.6 percent of Americans read even one book, which is less than before. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development found that in 2023, 34 percent of U.S. adults were not good at basic math, showing again that people are thinking less clearly.
When people stop reading and use screens too much, their thinking skills get weaker.
The way we measure intelligence shows there are changes in what we care about and how we get information.
These signs are worrying, but it doesn’t mean that intelligence will keep going down forever. Looking deeper, we see that the quality of schools, health, and changes in society also affect these thinking skills. Some countries even show IQ improvements. This tells us we need special plans in schools if we want things to get better in the long run.
Conclusion
Recap of Key Points: Human intelligence is reportedly declining, especially among youth. Factors like less reading and increased screen time contribute significantly.
The path forward is fraught with challenges. Implementing educational reforms plays a crucial role in reversing this distressing trend.
