"How Social Media Is Rewiring Your Brain" was (I paraphrase the exact title) a book, or maybe a cover story at one of the big journalistic sites I follow. Concern over what the internet is doing to our brains has been a concern for two decades, of course. Studies and articles are everywhere, and all opinions on its harm or benefits to our neurology can be found.

But now we are entering a whole new phase. Before AI and sophisticated machine learning, the internet was an instantaneous and free (to the user) tool for finding **information**. Now, AI is providing us with a tool that automates **cognition itself**. CivCon member Anne wanted us to discuss whether the internet is actually shrinking our brains, or at least reducing certain skills the human brain has had for eons.

No, this is not older folk bemoaning that kids today cannot do long division or write in cursive. These technologies make us more productive in many, many ways. Yet every good thing comes at a cost. Is losing some mental dexterity or abilities, and becoming so totally dependent on technology that can be used by its owners to manipulate us back, a cost we may come to regret? At the very least, how can we completely dismiss such concerns so early in the development and rollout of AI?

**Optional Backgrounders -**

* [Are we losing our minds to technology](https://www.humology.com/are-we-losing-our-minds-to-technology?srsltid=AfmBOooQewXbzAIlXL11NTLn8FiIUL1gOWBLeCiLhTT0M6HJqyp6WcxK)? 2025.
* [Focus on mental health effects](https://www.asanet.org/footnotes-article/technology-use-leading-demise-our-mental-health-and-well-being/). American Sociology Assn 2025.
* Update Sunday: [The perils of AI friends and chatbot therapists](https://www.derekthompson.org/p/ai-will-create-a-social-crisis-long?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=y8p0k&triedRedirect=true).
* [Why you should keep using your own cognition even if AI can do it for you](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/403100/ai-brain-effects-technology-phones&ved=2ahUKEwj60Y_z24uPAxU3L0QIHRrNHKwQFnoECEkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw292WrQ5fFYdKhW_m7ts7KU).
* 2018, but Scientific American: [How digital devices are altering our brains](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/are-digital-devices-altering-our-brains/).

DavidG

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Are our brains growing too dependent on technology?

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