Cluttered Mind

Jonah Lehrer's 2010 critique of Nicholas Carr's "The Shallows" remains pertinent in 2024. Lehrer's concerns about technology's impact on attention are even more relevant with the rise of smartphones and social media. The constant digital multitasking prevalent today exacerbates issues of distraction and impairs deep thinking and sustained attention. While Lehrer acknowledged that some digital activities can enhance cognitive skills like visual-spatial abilities and information processing speed, Carr’s concern about the internet promoting superficiality persists. This ongoing debate highlights the challenge of balancing digital efficiency with maintaining cognitive depth and focus.

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/books/review/Lehrer-t.html