Are we getting dumber?

Question

The claim that IQ levels are declining globally is partially supported by existing research, which points to a complex interplay of environmental factors, including education, nutrition, and lifestyle changes. While increased screen time and reduced reading may contribute to this trend, they are among multiple factors, and the scientific community has not reached a definitive conclusion on their specific impact. Therefore, while the India Today article highlights a valid concern, the assertion that screen time and reduced reading are the primary causes of declining IQ levels requires further empirical evidence.

Answer 1

The claim that "IQ levels are declining globally as we read less and scroll more" is partially supported by current research evidence.

Studies across Norway, Denmark, Australia, Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, and the United States have documented a "Reverse Flynn Effect" - a decline in IQ scores that began in the 1990s following decades of increasing scores. A comprehensive Norwegian study published in PNAS found that this decline is caused by environmental factors rather than genetics or immigration.

However, the relationship between reading and screen time is less definitive. While researchers propose various potential explanations including "poor nutrition, worsening health, media exposures and changes to education," not all cognitive domains are declining - spatial reasoning scores have increased in recent years. Some studies have suggested excessive social media and internet usage as a possible factor, as it "has been shown to decrease cognitive functioning, especially in adolescents."

In conclusion, while research confirms a global IQ decline, attributing this primarily to reduced reading and increased screen time oversimplifies a complex phenomenon that likely involves multiple environmental factors.

Sources:

1. Flynn effect and its reversal (PNAS) - https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1718793115
2. Northwestern University research (2023) - https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2023/03/americans-iq-scores-are-lower-in-some-areas-higher-in-one/
3. ScienceDirect study on reverse Flynn effect - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160289623000156
4. Research on social media impact on cognition - https://check-iq.org/blog/reverse-flynn-effect-explained

Comments

I appreciate this fact-check! I think your strategy of breaking down the claim into several components and verifying the validity of them one at a time is a great way to conduct fact-checking because of its clarity and precision. I also appreciate your inclusion of other sources to support your answer (especially the peer-reviewed article). Still, I would also be curious to view this claim from perspectives besides IQ scores. After all, the question "Are we getting dumber?" leaves plenty of ambiguities. Many people now regard IQ tests as misleading and not indicative of true "intelligence," so I wonder what other metrics may support or debase this claim. This is beyond the scope of this fact-check, but an interesting thing to consider nonetheless.

Answer 2

The concept of declining IQ scores, known as the "Reverse Flynn Effect," has been observed in various studies. The term "Flynn Effect" refers to the observed rise in IQ scores throughout the 20th century, attributed to environmental factors. However, recent studies, such as the one by Bratsberg and Rogeberg, indicate a reversal of this trend, with environmental factors like education quality and media consumption patterns playing a role. ​While the India Today article highlights a genuine concern regarding declining IQ levels and changing reading habits, it's crucial to approach such claims with a critical eye. Multiple factors, including environmental changes, education systems, and media consumption, contribute to cognitive trends. Further research is necessary to determine the specific impact of screen time and reduced reading on global IQ levels.​

https://www.verywellmind.com/the-flynn-effect-7565614

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6042097/

Comments

I agree with the response to some extent, as it acknowledges the complexity of the issue and the potential role of multiple factors in the observed decline in IQ scores. The mention of the Reverse Flynn Effect and the environmental influences like education quality and media consumption is valid, as these factors are likely interconnected. However, I believe the argument still needs more concrete evidence to clearly link screen time and reduced reading to IQ decline, as the relationship is not fully understood and requires more focused, empirical research.

Answer 3

There's a few pieces of this claim that are challenging. For starters IQ is still rather poorly understood both in the way it's most accurately measured and in its connection to intelligence. There are a variety of factors contributing to IQ scores including nutrition, education, socioeconomic status, etc. Beyond that whether or not IQ scores have increased or decreased over time is heavily debated and can't be reliably compared as tests and culture change overtime. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0160289608000615)

But most worrying about the use of IQ is that none of the sources the article sites actually bring up or measure IQ. The studies mentioned in this article come from a financial times article https://www.ft.com/content/a8016c64-63b7-458b-a371-e0e1c54a13fc, which is behind a pay wall making its access restricted to the average person. But this article does go out of its way to conclude with the statement 

"The good news is that underlying human intellectual capacity is surely undimmed. But outcomes are a function of both potential and execution. For too many of us the digital environment is hampering the latter."

 

So while the idea that future generations may have suffered in academics in recent years has validity, there is nothing in the evidence provided that humans as a species are getting dumber. However to the articles credit the identification of technology as playing a role does seem to have merit. Though it still may be exaggerated as the biggest drop in scores quite comfortably lines up with the timeline of the covid 19 virus, so its purely my speculation that lock down is a key contributor to this trends sharp decrease.

Comments

I think this fact check is well-done, and raises many important points. It is valid that the studies referenced in the first article don't appear to directly measure IQ. The financial times article being paywalled is a great observation to the overall quality of the research and accessibility. I agree, that our species is not necessarily getting dumber, but there are influences in our everyday lives that contribute to our tendancy's to take the easy way out and destroy our work ethic.

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I really like how you explained that IQ is not an entirely accurate way of measuring one's intelligence, because I think a lot of people seem to forget that.  I also liked how you mentioned that IQ isn't brought up in any of the sources the article cites, which is good to know. I appreciate how in-depth your answer is and the sources your provided. I think doing a bit more research into whether or not COVID or technology plays a role in all of this would be very interesting and wouldn't involve just "speculating". Fantastic job overall!

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This is a really good analysis. I like how you used a source in ur writing. The quote helped a lot too. I can tell you definitely read the article thoroughly and thought about it and used all the analysis techniques that would be useful here.

Answer 4

The claim that IQ levels are declining globally is partially true. Recent research shows that many different environmental factors are connected to the changes we see in how people, especially young people, think and learn today. Some people believe that the main reason for this decline is because of too much screen time and not enough reading. While this idea seems to make sense, the truth is more complicated. Scientists and researchers have not found clear proof that screen time and less reading are the main causes. There are many other things happening at the same time, like changes in schools, family life, and even how technology is used for learning. So, while screen time and reading habits may play a role, it is not right to blame them completely without stronger evidence. The problem is more complex than it may seem at first. 

Recent studies have observed a reversal of the "Flynn Effect"—the historical rise in IQ scores throughout the 20th century. For instance, a study by the Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research in Norway found that IQ scores among Norwegian men born after 1975 have been declining. Researchers attribute this trend to environmental factors such as changes in education, nutrition, and lifestyle, rather than genetics. ​Time+1Curious Matrix+1

Similarly, the India Today article shows concerns about declining IQ levels, linking them to increased screen time and reduced reading. While these factors may contribute to cognitive changes, they are among multiple variables influencing IQ trends. ​The impact of screen time on cognitive abilities is a subject of ongoing research. Some studies show that excessive screen use may be associated with weaker attention spans and lower academic performance. However, the evidence is mixed, and the scientific community has not reached a consensus on the extent of this impact. ​India Today+1Education Week+1

Reduced reading habits have also been linked to declines in certain cognitive skills, such as comprehension and critical thinking. Nevertheless, it's important to consider these factors within the broader context of environmental influences on intelligence.​ While there is evidence supporting a global decline in IQ scores, Saying that screen time and less reading are the only reasons for lower IQ oversimplifies a complicated issue. More research is needed to figure out how different factors in our environment affect how our brains work and develop.

Comments

I love your balanced take here. I think the research surrounding the global IQ trends is interesting. For example the reversal of the Flynn Effect in some countries. I think you are right for the environmental factors. I think that sure technology use might influence cognitive development but should not be the single factor. Hopefully ongoing research will clarify what does matter more. And how we should better support cognitive development.

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Thank you for your response. It was very helpful in explaining the truth behind this claim. It correctly acknowledges that while there is some evidence suggesting a decline in IQ scores in certain populations—a reversal of the Flynn Effect—blaming screen time and reduced reading alone is an oversimplification. The studies you used were accurate and very insightful.

Answer 5

The claim above states that people are "getting dumber" and is mostly true. Although lower IQ test scores can be attributed to many factors like education and nutrition as stated, it is primarily due to the relationship that people have with screen time.

In the early years of childhood, it is crucial for kids to develop basic language characteristics. One of ways that children develop those characteristics is through interactions with parents and other adults. In an article by the National Library of Medicine it states that "there is a growing concern that screen time diminishes the quantity and quality of interactions between children and their parents, resulting in fewer chances for the child to practice and develop their language abilities" (NLM, 2023). With children spending more time in front of screens, it is impacting their development as a human being and could inhibit their education going into school. With this in mind, keeping the routine of screen usage all the way into school could continue to prevent higher IQ grades. In another part of the article it states that "...with each one-hour increase in TV exposure at two years of age corresponding to a 7% unit decrease in participation in class and a 6% unit decrease in math proficiency in the fourth grade" (NLM, 2023). With the constant dependance on screens in this day and age, it could be detrimental to educational development going into the future.  

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10353947/#:~:text=Early%20screen%20exposure%20has%20been,interactions%20between%20children%20and%20caregivers.

Answer 6

There is lots of research and studies surrounding this topic, and it is true that the increased screen time and reduction of reading in general have shown to have negative effects on "executive functioning, sensorimotor development, and academic outcomes..."(National Library of Medicine, 2023). Many believe that this is contributing, however multiple other theories exist(such as environmental changes) as to why there is a general decrease in IQ, so it is impossible to clearly prove that screen time and reduced reading is the primary cause of declining IQ, though studies do suggest that it does have an effect, as the above claim states.

Sources:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10353947/#:~:text=However%2C%20studies%20have%20shown%20that,academic%20performance%20in%20later%20years.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4354297/

https://hms.harvard.edu/news/screen-time-brain

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6042097/

Answer 7

https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/pisa-2022-results-volume-i_53f23881-en.html 

I would agree that while one cannot entirely place blame upon increased screen time for drops in academic performance, the correlation is most certainly there. And some studies over the past couple years have been attempting to observe these alleged declines in intelligence. “In 2022, as countries were still dealing with the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 700,000 students from 81 OECD member and partner economies, representing 29 million across the world, took the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) test.” Over the past few years, this ‘PISA’ test has been administered to 81 different developing and developed countries alike, testing the competence of high school-age students in math, science, and reading. From PISA’s reports, students across the board have been declining in their reading comprehension and mathematical skills for the past couple years, and questionnaires provided with these tests showed that 38% of students self-reported that they felt distracted by devices in class consistently. So to address the claim, I would say that yes, both increased screen time and a lack of reading in students are negatively affecting IQ. Or at least IQ tests, for that matter. 

Answer 8

This claim seems to have been well-thought out and the information is deeply understood as I appreciated the emphasis on the “partially supported” by existing research. But why did you choose IndiaToday as your source as it does seem to be a bit less credible than other sources that provide similar information. Such as the NBC News article https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/iq-rates-are-dropping-many-developed-countries-doesn-t-bode-ncna1008576 which also discussed the drop in IQ rates in developed countries but it was written in 2019 so some of the information is dated but is still relevant to the topic as it also supports your claim, but does show that this has been a issue for a period of time. 

Answer 9

This claim is true, but also not necessarily so. This issue also seems to be more of an American problem than a global one, and you don’t need to do that much research to find it out. Just by looking at the NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) percentile scores from the past 25 years, you can see them slowly rising until 2014, then they begin to drop, drastically. My sister even works in child education and told me one day how the average middle school student is reading below grade level. And it’s not just the youth that's getting “dumber,” it's us too. It was found in the 2023 PIAAC (Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies) that, "Between 2017 and 2023, there were increases in the percentages of adults performing at the lowest proficiency level (Level 1 or below) in both literacy and numeracy: in literacy this percentage increased from 19 to 28 percent and in numeracy from 29 to 34 percent.” It was also found that U.S. adults at the lowest level in adaptive problem solving had the same percentage as the U.S. adults at the highest level, which was 32%. But why is this happening to us? There are many reasons that can factor into this. The one I most strongly believe is that we have just become a little lazy. With the rise in AI and technological advancements, and the COVID-19 lockdown, people have started to become reliant on the internet. It is a resource that makes you not have to think or try as hard. Also, with social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, our attention spans have been fried. And even some of the media we consume (especially for young influenceable children) is mind-numbing or brain-rotting. So, we have, in a way, reprogrammed ourselves to become less intelligent and more dependent. 

 https://www.aei.org/education/k-12-schooling/us-history-tests-show-the-falling-floor-for-student-achievement/ 

https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/piaac/2023/national_results.asp 

 

Answer 10

In “Are we getting dumber? Study links dropping IQs to less reading, more scrolling”,the unnamed writer from the India Times reports that across the globe, studies are showing that adolescents are less intelligent than they have been in the past. The IndiaTimes is not a very reliable site, as a lot of their articles contain exaggerated headlines,probably so that the article can get more clicks. With that being said, there are a few solid parts of this article. All the information about decreased intelligence among younger people is reputable, as the article links to the research where the data was first discovered. However, the article’s claims that these results are caused by a decrease in reading and an increase in “scrolling”, are not accurate. While it could be true that these factors are causing each other, correlation does not equal causation

Comments

What sources did you rely on for your fact-check? Always include hyperlinks to sources. Thanks!