The Dumbest Generation Essay
Uploaded by baseSmith on Dec 06, 2011
Techno-Logical Youth
Read a book, our nation depends on it! Technology is making you and me stupid! -- Wait, what? The digital age is a change and an improvement to our society, not a detriment, right? “The Dumbest Generation, How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes our future [or, Don’t Trust Anyone under 30]” by Mark Bauerlein, sets out to prove just that. The title says it all-- the book documents and analyzes the decline of literacy and critical thinking amongst American youth under the age of 30, technology being the main culprit. I, being part of the ‘dumbest generation’, should be inclined to disagree. Bauerlein uses terminology as if we (the ‘dumbest generation’) are the beginning of the end. He suffocates the reader with his heavy reliance on statistics that range from convincing, to mildly plausible. He presents and compares his findings and surveys to what seems like any statistic that better supports his argument. He uses extreme scenarios, insignificant testimonials-- anything to support his thesis. However, while I cannot agree with the extent to which Bauerlein takes his argument, as well as the language in his delivery, I cannot contend with the overall message of the book.
It is not easy reading something that is, in essence, insulting you and a majority of people you know. Consequently, my natural reaction was to counter argue in support of my generation. And while I tried to disagree and challenge Bauerlein’s arguments, I couldn’t help but find myself in agreement throughout a majority of the book. Bauerlein brings up great points which I, when being completely honest with myself, cannot dispute. I would like to be able to say that I read an ample amount in my leisure time, but I, like many of my peers, simply do not. While I do not believe that the ‘dumbest generation’ is responsible for the impending downfall of the nation, it was an eye-opening read to see just how absorbed in technology not only we Millennials are, but the extent to which we are as a nation. That being said, increased screen time (time spent with technology) amongst our nation’s youth is not only detrimental to considerable psychological developments, but also jeopardizes the future leaders of our nation due to its inherent by-product of peer absorption, and the ‘bibliophobic’ nature they collectively generate.
Some may argue that technology is an educator; however it merely gives...