Posted on 02/06/2026 5:25:46 AM PST by yesthatjallen
For the first time in recorded human history, scientists have discovered a generation they claim is actually less intelligent than the one that came before it.
Neuroscientist Dr Jared Cooney Horvath, who previously worked as an educator, argues that people in Gen Z have become cognitively stunted as a result of their over-reliance on new technology, like smartphones.
With records being kept on academic achievement for the past 200 years, this sudden decline from Millennials to Gen Zers was attributed to this rapid digital development, with Dr Horvath explaining before a Senate committee last month that this drop happened despite young people spending longer than ever in school.
Gen Z are the first age group to grow up with easy access to the internet both at home and in school, which Dr Horvath explained has caused a provable loss in skills related to problem solving, reading, memory, math, and paying attention in class.
SNIP
(Excerpt) Read more at unilad.com ...
Not surprising, and it’s a problem.
The larger problem is that the Zs don’t even KNOW they’re stupid.
My friend’s daughter is 16. When she was about 13, she was (maybe still is) a climate change zealot. She actually argued with my husband about the subject — so adamant that she was right. Hubby, PhD in Physics, who did weather for classified military projects.
I”m sure it’s due to global warming.
> What about the quality of the education provided at schools? <
Retired public high school teacher here. I taught science. The curriculum did not change over my teaching years. Same topics, same worksheets, etc.
What did change was the administration’s outlook. Early in my career the emphasis was on rigor. Teach the kids what they needed to know. Around the year 2000 that shifted to making the district look good. There was pressure to reduce failures. Pass everyone.
This doesn’t explain everything. But I think it is a piece of the puzzle.
this is so funny because about 15-20 years ago me and two other people were discussing this over lunch. One guy said mankind would become more intelligent as the future progresses. Our argument was no and pointed to obvious signs from that time. Now here it is....
Degraded general problem solving ability is different than actual loss of IQ (abstract pattern recognition— the potential to solve abstract problems if you will). Both are happening, and the main driver is importing/subsidizing the birth of millions of low IQ people and demanding they be qualified for any position. There is the real lowering of IQ directly by dilution, but also the effect of lowering academic standards that impacts all students— so every one trained in science/engineering becomes worse at problem solving.
The SAT has been dumbed down for decades.
You are describing the Dunning Kruger effect.
The dumber you are the more certain you are that you are correct—and the more hostile you are to opposing views.
I see that around here a lot—when folks start to get emotional that is a clue that they have been unwilling to challenge themselves with intellectual curiosity—and then they miss out on a lot of data that would be new to them—and might change their view.
Quick addition to my post #23.
I think the widespread use of calculators in classrooms also plays a part.
At one time you had to think, then follow a logical sequence, to solve a math problem. Now just press a few keys on a calculator. Some serious brain training gets lost there.
Gen Z is less white than previous generations in America at least
It’s gone way beyond calculators at this point.
Silicon Valley knows how bad it is, so their executives send their kids to Montessori schools with zero tech.
The Unilad ( a UK company ) article is republishing something from the UK Daily Mail, as can be see in the link from Unilad to the Daily Mail. As to Horvath -- "a former teacher-turned-neuroscientist" -- did one read he is from Australia, a lecturer at the University of Melbourne? Or note that he is peddling his books and podcasts and appearances on the subject? Or that he is busy with a monetized YouTube channel alongside his many appearances? Or that he works now out of a Scottsdale AZ office?
He's peddling online "better your intelligence" stuff for himself. Using computers' and phones' "screens."
THIS IS MARKETING. Via digital technology. His. because others is somehow "stunting" intelligence. His? Nope.
"The Learning Blueprint | Where Learning Science Meets Classroom Impact" -- an online course using "screens"
Just MARKETING. Selling his online "THE LEARNING BLUEPRINT" and more.
Jared Horvath Speaker profile.
One of the ways I do that is constantly study, run test simulations, and usually pass IT certifications.
CASP is my latest one. One or two more CompTIA ones I’m interested in.
CISSP and others are on the list.
If Tanisha can’t do calculus then NOBODY gets to do calculus. We’ve seen the articles, drop everything down to the lowest common denominator, so nobody fails. It’s what socialism does.
That said, blaming the kids is wrong - it’s the adults that set the landscape for them.
There’s also a difference between “intelligence” and “education level”. They’re not dumb (excluding the inbreeding Muslims pouring in), they’re just not being pushed in the right areas. I bet they can tell you all about Taylor Swift.
God knows I’ve made my share of mistakes over the years. I like to think that I’ve learned from them.
Will GenZers be able to say the same thing in 30 or 40 years?
(I’m not done making mistakes, I just hope they are smaller ones and less frequent, lol)
I personally think calculators should not be used in classrooms until the 11th grade.
The school district where I taught went in the opposite direction. It was crazy. Calculators were introduced in the early grades. Oh, and it gets worse. Teachers were actually forbidden to teach things like the times tables. Everything had to be done with calculators.
Result? Kids are graduating who cannot tell you what 9x6 is without reaching for a calculator.
🙁
Nonsense. Teenagers are far more intelligent than their elders, and they’re happy to tell you so.
They are all on computers and iPads at this point. Using a calculator would be pretty challenging for them. They just ask ChatGPT for their answers.
Which by all appearances, is intentional.
Africans spreading into developed countries and muslims growing as a percentage, are two negative factors. Muslims consign half their number (women) to an uneducated class. Hindus are definitely not lowering average IQ. Look at their percentages in tech. industries. China’s one child and the falling birth rate in advanced countries are two more. Demographics is the only accurate predictor of the future. Cell phones don’t make people dumber. They make them lazier.
We will still have enough smart people to invent things, but we won’t have an intelligent population to run things politically.
Curious if you segregate out the white kids if there is any change.
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