Is Google making it harder to remember stuff?
I recently read a article on Steemit.com by @sirwinchester about internet addiction. It was pretty fascinating. This got me remembering about how I had read about both google and the internet impacting our memory. Yes, google is impacting the way you remember things. While I often joke with my friends about google being the “oracle” there is a reason why. As far back as 2011 studies have shown that using google impacts your memory.
It's easy to "forget" things if you can save it
Betsy Sparrow found this out in a experiment involving 46 college students. When asked questions they were unfamiliar with and those word related to computer related words (Google, Browser, Internet) there was a longer delay opposed to words not related to computers (telephone, paper, pencile). Other experiments had similar results. For instance volunteers were asked to read 40 trivia statements and then type them into a computer. Later they would write down as many as they could remember. The volunteers were found to remember fewer facts if they were told their work would be saved. If they were told the words would be erased from the PC they were able to recall more of the words.
An international survey in Russia had similar results. Kaspersky Labs quizzed 6,000 people. They found that 40 percent of people Google information before even try to remember it. Another quarter forgot the answer to a question right after finding it out. This is because they assume they can look it up again later. Some people go as far to argue that this is the result of instant information. The easy access is actually making us “dumber” if you will.
This isn’t the only area of technology where our memory can be impacted.
Yes, there is more. We can't remember directions as well.
Hugo Spiers found similar results in another study relating to memory and GPS. When using GPS for navigation the hippocampus part of the brain was less active. But when people remembered directions while driving the hippocampus was more active. This falls in line with earlier studies which have shown that people remember directions better when thinking about it. Relying on GPS constantly and then not having it people found it harder to recall directions.
The question is what does this all mean. Is the “google effect” making us all dumber?
Not exactly. Most of the researchers agree that it’s not making us dumber. It’s more that the human brain is reorganizing itself. Instead of remembering a fact they find people remember how to locate necessary information. My personal thoughts is it’s debatable if that is a good or bad thing. Calling on stored knowledge somewhere is nothing new. For instance, think about how often you do this at work. How much do you remember off of the top of your head. and how many things do you have written down on a piece of paper somewhere? While I can remember eighty percent of my job off of the top of my head there are still many things I keep written down on paper to reference. I just see this as an extension of that but in technology form.
That being said you don’t want to make yourself totally dependent on Google or the internet. For instance what will happen if you need to get somewhere and your cell phone isn’t working or you lose signal. What about if you need to remember some key piece of information but looking it up on your phone isn’t a option. Like anything there is a balance between convience and also being practical. Now you’re probably wondering, “Well what’s the answer?” I’m not saying to lock your phone away forever. The simple answer to just learn things often and frequently. What most people don’t realize is that remembering things isn’t the hard part. Things we learn are first stored in short term and then long term memory. Along with this learning has been shown to help the brain form new neurons in certain areas of the brain. A process known as Neurogenesis.
What is the answer?
We don’t really have a problem in “forgetting” things. It’s more just difficulty in recalling information from our long term memory. Repetition and always learning make this process easier. Next time you’re driving somewhere try to take the time to learn the route. Then try to drive part or all of it without relying on your GPS right away. This answer is simple.
Take time each day to learn something new. Especially things which are areas of interest of you. Don’t wait until you need some random fact to look it up online. Even here on Steemit.com take ten minutes to read some of the awesome articles here about something that interests you. Make sure to just take a few minutes to actually read everything, let the information set in. If you’re always learning you’ll be amazed at how many things you can remember.
For things of more importance to remember such as work, school, etc. You can even go one step further. There are dozens of memory boosting techniques to help you remember vital information. The method of loci (or mind palace as some call it) is one such method. Others include flash cards, writing things down, saying stuff out loud and many other techniques. In the future I will write write a piece detailing different memory techniques you can employee. These will help to sharpen your memory. While google isn’t making us dumber it is making it harder to properly remember things. The answer is to just take a break from googling stuff and instead focus on learning new things.
I hope you enjoy this piece. If so please comment below. Feel free to upvote, resteem and follow me for more stuff like this.
Sources:
http://academicearth.org/electives/internet-changing-your-brain/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/eyes-the-brain/201101/how-grow-new-neurons-in-your-brain
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Method_of_loci
Full credit for images to the below sources.
Image sources: 1 2 3 4
OMG. 100% agreeing! Blaming google is not the only answer! haha
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We are really overly dependent on google.
We do. I think it's just human nature. Even i resort to google a lot. Just important for us to practice recalling facts without google to save us.
One of the keyword of your article is "taking the time to read". Most of us have no more time today to do anything.
I personally have actually learned many things by spending time on steemit. Just by answering questions, asking questions and reading reading and reading. We all have something to earn here!
Yes learn and earn here. Lol. I agree life is so hectic its hard to find time for things. But it is amazing how mich difference it makes to really learn something.
And i believe it. The payout invective encourages people to write some impressive work. I've been using steemit a lot as well. It helps in learning new things. Think there is a ton to learn here.
Unfortunately, the payout incentive also encourage people to write nonsense and useless posts.
Taking my own example as it is something I know (yeah :p). I am usually reading what is going on in #science. There are way too many posts (including posts that should not even be tagged as science), so that I cannot read them all (my time on steemit is very limited). As a result, I often miss very good posts and spent a too long time on posts I was attracted by their title an that are not good. This is the consequence of the success of Steemit I may say. I don't see any way out at the moment. If you have ideas, please let me know ^^