CITIZENS NEWS

Human intelligence in freefall: Study links cognitive decline to social media and AI

By isabelle // 2025-03-18

• Human cognitive skills have declined since the early 2010s, coinciding with the rise of social media and passive visual content consumption.
• Data from PISA and adult evaluations show reduced reasoning, problem-solving, and attention spans, especially among young people.
• Reading rates have dropped significantly, correlating with declining numeracy and critical thinking skills.
• Social media algorithms and AI tools encourage passive consumption, potentially "atrophying" human cognitive abilities.
• Over-reliance on AI risks future generations losing independent thinking skills, with profound implications for education and work.

For decades, human intelligence was on the rise, a phenomenon known as the Flynn Effect. But a growing body of research suggests that trend has reversed, with measurable declines in cognitive skills since the early 2010s—a period that coincides with the rise of social media and a cultural shift toward passive consumption of visual content. As artificial intelligence (AI) grows smarter, humans appear to be getting dumber, raising concerns about the future of critical thinking, problem-solving, and our ability to compete with machines.

The data behind the decline

According to the Financial Times, human intellectual abilities such as reasoning, problem-solving, and information processing have been in decline since the early 2010s. This trend is supported by data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which measures the learning skills of 15-year-olds worldwide, and adult cognitive evaluations. The decline is particularly pronounced among young people, with studies showing reduced attention spans and weakening critical thinking skills. The shift from reading to consuming video content is a key factor. In 2022, the National Endowment for the Arts found that only 37.6% of Americans read a novel or short story in the past year, down from 45.2% in 2012. This decline in reading coincides with a broader erosion of numeracy and problem-solving skills. For example, 34% of U.S. adults now score at the lowest levels of numeracy, up from 29% just a year earlier.

The role of technology and AI

While technology has brought with it some undeniable benefits, its impact on cognition is increasingly concerning. Social media platforms, designed to maximize engagement, have shifted from active participation to passive consumption. Algorithms now deliver an endless stream of bite-sized content, requiring little to no critical thought. As Financial Times data reporter John Burn-Murdoch noted, one problem is “The shift from articles (longer material that requires the reader to synthesise, make inferences and reflect) to short self-contained posts (everything is pre-packaged in a few sentences, no critical thought required)." Meanwhile, AI is advancing at an unprecedented pace. Elon Musk has warned that AI could surpass human intelligence within three years, a prediction that underscores the urgency of addressing our cognitive decline. Tools like ChatGPT are already performing complex tasks, but their convenience comes at a cost. Research from Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University warns that outsourcing thoughts to AI can leave minds “atrophied and unprepared,” leading to the deterioration of cognitive faculties.

A dark future ahead?

The implications of this decline are profound. As AI becomes more integrated into education and the workplace, there is a risk that future generations will lack the ability to think independently. Studies show that students who rely on AI for assignments perform worse on tests, while employees who depend on AI tools may experience “skill decay,” losing opportunities to practice and refine their cognitive abilities. The stakes are high. Human intelligence has always been what sets us apart from other forms of life. If we continue down this path, we risk becoming increasingly dependent on machines, not just for tasks but for thought itself. While technology and AI offer incredible potential, they also pose significant risks to our cognitive abilities. To reverse this trend, we must prioritize critical thinking, encourage active engagement with information, and find ways to use technology as a tool rather than a crutch. The future of human intelligence depends on it. Sources for this article include: RT.com Futurism.com Forbes.com DailyMail.co.uk

addiction glitch mental cognitive decline human intelligence reading Big Tech logic badhealth reasoning brain funtion