The age of the Internet is affecting traditional print reading, but not for the reasons one might think. It is evident that teenagers and children, who use the web more actively, both read and write a considerable amount. The main explanation is that the given activities are one of the few ways a person can interact with the internet, others being video and voice exchange. However, the format of reading and writing on the web is vastly different from the traditional print versions because online texts come in a shorter form. Therefore, the declining scores of students in regards to reading are the result of a change incapability to focus and concentrate because these mental muscles are being atrophied.
One’s ability to focus on a single task is highly dependent on the type of activity. It is stated that many writers face troubles when they are unable to concentrate on a book without getting distracted after two or three pages (Rich, 2008). In other words, active internet use negatively affects people by robbing them of their ability to focus on a single activity. However, one can present a counterargument to the given statement by claiming that it is not reading that is negatively affected by the web, but rather the style or format of the activity (Carr, 2008). It means that the internet encourages or facilitates the use of shorter texts due to their efficiency, which might also mean that such an approach is more superior to the traditional long pieces.
The age of the net eliminated the need to memorize the majority of items due to their constant availability online. One should understand that human memory is an instrument that is far from perfect because it can operate in a faulty manner (“Introduction to psychology,” 2015). Therefore, a person’s cognition, which is the process of acquiring and using knowledge, is more relevant today (“Introduction to psychology,” 2015).). In other words, it can be argued that the Internet made people’s lives easier by removing the need for memorization and focus.
Although one can view it as a negative aspect of the web, similar arguments can be made against any modern technology, such as phones, cars, or escalators. For example, cars and elevators reduce the need for physical activity, which is why one might condemn them for being responsible for inactivity-related issues. However, any manifestation of progress leads to the elimination of some challenging aspects of life. A person can compensate for the reduction in activity by going to the gym or exercising at home. Similarly, the internet’s format for reading and writing might be considered as something negative, but the fact is that it is efficient at delivering the information. In addition, it eliminates the need to memorize and focus for prolonged periods, which is why one might experience a drop in concentration.
In conclusion, the age of the internet might be the main cause of the reduction in reading scores among students, but the problem lies in the fact that the testing methods are outdated. The current format of texts is more concise, whereas traditional prints are long. The measurement approaches need to change without condemning the evident benefits of progress, where a person does not need to concentrate and memorize to learn and think. Therefore, online reading is a mere shift from the regular type of activity.
References
Carr, N. (2008). Is Google making us stupid? The Atlantic. Web.
Introduction to psychology. (2015). Minneapolis, MN: Libraries Publishing.
Rich, M. (2008). Literacy debate: Online, r u really reading? The New York Times. Web.