The internet replaces memory, says study
Posted on: 18/Aug/2016 6:10:18 PM
A study conducted by researchers at the University of California says that a tendency to rely on the internet and technology as an aide-memoire, also known as cognitive offloading, constantly increases. This tendency can have adverse effects on our thought process for problem solving, recall and learning.
Two groups of participants took part in the study. One group relied entirely on their memory and others used Google. They were then given the option of answering questions by the method of their choice. The researchers observed their tendency to reach for a smart phone to answer questions, and found that those using Google spent very little time consulting their own memory before opting to look for the answer over the internet, while 30 per cent of those who had consulted the internet failed to answer even a single question from their memory.
The results clearly indicated that the easy access to knowledge online and too much reliance on the internet to solve problems might prove counter-productive and ruin our memory.
