Have you shut down your phone recently? I’m not talking about restarting it. I am talking about giving yourself a small screen break.
I fear, regardless of age, we are hooked. I was at a marvelous talk on brain wellbeing recently at one of our senior living communities and without exaggeration, at least five phones started ringing during the 45 minute presentation. It was actually so amusing, the speaker at one point stopped and parodied answering a ringing phone!
Not only do we use our phones for social connection, but increasingly they are our source of news and entertainment, library, encyclopedia, and all-around source of information.
Do you put your phone away during meals? How about at bedtime? Do we really put them on airplane mode when we fly? I believe that the answer is increasingly, no.
How Smartphones Impact Focus and Distraction
I was intrigued by an opinion piece in the New York Times. The guest essay by Mary Harrington argues that digital technologies, especially our smartphones, are creating digital and cognitive inequality.
Harrington suggests that tweets and short form video crowd out what she calls “long-form reading”. She goes on to say that alerts and other reminders “mold our minds for distraction.” And in a state of almost continuous distraction, it is very difficult to think critically. Harrington contends that critical thinking is the new luxury good, “available only to those people who have the time and resources to consciously, determinedly pursue them.”
“The ascetic approach to cognitive fitness is still niche and concentrated among the wealthy,” writes Harrington. Indeed, poor kids in America spend about two more hours per day on screens than richer ones, according to one 2019 study.
So “as new generations reach adulthood having never lived in a world without smartphones,” writes Harrington, “we can expect the culture to stratify ever more starkly. On the one hand, a relatively small group of people will retain, and intentionally develop, the capacity for concentration and long-form reasoning. On the other, a larger general population will be effectively post-literate — with all the consequences this implies for cognitive clarity.”
Why Critical Thinking Matters
I would argue that critical thinking and reasoning is one of the most important traits we as human beings have. What distinguishes us from technology, specifically generative AI, is our judgment, which is shaped by both experience and emotion. It is the new “high-touch” to the new “high tech”.
According to a recent article in Forbes outlining 13 steps for critical thinking, “critical thinking isn’t about being constantly negative or critical. It’s about objectivity and having to learn to spot fake news. It’s not always easy to spot false or misleading content, but a good rule of thumb is to look at the language, emotion, and tone of the piece. “Critical thinking means arriving at your own carefully considered conclusions instead of taking information at face value.”
How to Strengthen Critical Thinking Skills
Is there a way to teach critical thinking and reasoning via technology? Perhaps, but it is understanding the humanistic components of critical thinking that make it foundational for humans and for our collective future. Here are a couple of examples from the Forbes article:
- Always vet new information with a cautious eye Is this information complete and up to date? Whose voice is missing here?
- Look at where the information has come from. Is the source trustworthy?
- Practice active listening. Listen carefully to what others are telling you, and try to build a clear picture of their perspective. Empathy is a really useful skill here, since putting yourself in another person’s shoes can help you understand where they’re coming from and what they might want.
- Ask lots of open-ended questions. Curiosity is a key trait of critical thinkers, so ask “who,” “what,” and “why”.
- Question your own biases, too. Everyone has biases: take a look at your own!
The Connection Between Screens and Cognitive Decline
Screens may provide access to some good and challenging brain games but most improvements in cognition have been noted when there is regular and active engagement in social activities—by that I mean engaging with other human beings! From my experience, I’ve learned that while individuals with cognitive decline may feel embarrassed by word-finding difficulties, a patient and supportive conversation with friends and family can help them build confidence.
In addition, therapy programs are also helpful in dealing with cognitive loss. Occupational therapy often provides individuals with life tools to deal with cognitive loss, things like making lists, keeping schedules and calendars and daily journaling which can aid in short term memory recovery. While reminders, calendars and lists can be kept “on line”, being able to hold something in the hand which is simple and easily accessible may be preferable for someone with cognitive decline.
Why Too Much Technology Can Cause Stress
My personal experience with screens and cognitive decline suggests that screen time should be shortened if not eliminated. We put so much into being tech savvy and using a variety of devices, that it often creates a sense of failure when cognitive issues make using devices harder. If you add to that the constant software updates, which change some workflows and patterns of use, technology becomes anything but a no-brainer!
Whether it is socioeconomic inequity or inequity among those with cognitive challenges, reliance on screens may not be best for us. Still, that is where we are headed as a society. My hope is that we see it not as a panacea but as a tool. Most importantly, understanding the inequities screen use can cause should be used to set new goals for the brightest minds. Could AI suggest some meaningful solutions? I say, let’s give it a try while we become more mindful that screen use and the technology they afford access to, have side effects we need to address promptly.
Key Takeaways
- Screen time can negatively impact focus, long-form reasoning, and critical thinking.
- Excessive reliance on smartphones may deepen social and cognitive inequalities.
- Critical thinking is a core human skill that helps us evaluate information and avoid misinformation.
- Active listening, empathy, and questioning are essential to building critical thinking skills.
- Social interaction and offline tools (journaling, lists, therapy) often benefit cognitive health more than screens.
- Technology should be used as a supportive tool, not a replacement for human connection and judgment.
