From Connectivity to Cognitive Control

Imagine a life without the Internet. Some of us can still remember the time before everything was connected. However, the thought of living without smartphones, instant access to maps, and search engines at our fingertips now seems completely alien to us. But how does our increasing reliance on the online world affect us? Our relationships, sources of information, and the way we interact with each other are rapidly changing. There are even noticeable effects occurring within our brains.

As more and more devices rely on the internet, it's no surprise that worldwide access is continually increasing. In 2016, an estimated 3.5 billion people across the world accessed online services. The top three countries in terms of internet users were China with 721 million users, followed by India and the US with 290 million users each. English is the most common language used online, followed by Chinese and Spanish.

The reliance on the internet is clearly changing across generations. It mainly depends on those who had to adapt to the new technology or those who grew up with it readily accessible. Generation X, born between the mid-1960s and early 1980s, logged an average of 110 minutes of mobile internet usage each day. Millennials, born from the early 1980s onward and grew up with the internet, spent an average of 185 minutes per day. Social media and messaging apps have become crucial to how we live our lives and communicate. More than a billion people regularly use apps like WhatsApp and even more use platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.

With the increasing use of internet services, it's natural that our behavior is changing as well. Communication through these platforms has become more common, leading to a decline in phone calls and text messages. Online shopping and services have caused a sharp decline in the use of traditional high-street stores. Our towns and cities are starting to look very different compared to a few decades ago, and all of this can be attributed to what's now available online.

So, how is all of this affecting our brains? With a wealth of information at our fingertips, the prevalence of the internet is changing the way our brains work. Millennials, for example, have been found to be far more forgetful than previous generations. This is thought to be a direct result of the constant distractions that connectivity brings. Memory relies on repetition and focused thinking, but constant exposure to new information prevents this process from taking place effectively. Additionally, the knowledge that information is readily available online means we're less likely to form a memory of it. While previous generations would have memorized directions on a map, now there's a reliance on GPS apps on our phones.

We're also becoming more addicted to our smartphones. Constantly checking for messages and updates has made us accustomed to being distracted. Our brains are less used to transitioning into deeper modes of thinking, making it more difficult when necessary. Research has also shown that the constant flow of information has resulted in a loss of cognitive control. Our ability to control our minds and decide what we think about is reducing. The more we rely on our phones and apps to provide information, the less we can determine what's truly important. We're increasingly focused on new information rather than what's genuinely significant.

So, what can be done? Although technology is clearly affecting the way our brains work, it's not necessarily a bad thing. Throughout history, inventions have enabled us to focus less on one thing so that our time can be used elsewhere. For example, washing machines have reduced the time spent on cleaning clothes, allowing for more hours dedicated to work or other activities. Similarly, the ability to communicate and find information faster on the internet means we have extra mental capacity for other processes. However, reducing our screen time can help keep our brains more active and adaptable. It's a good idea to be aware of how much time we spend on distractions each day. My advice is to keep track of your screen time and unplug it every once in a while.