The Internet has changed the way the human mind works by impacting its cognitive processes. The World Wide Web has been around for about 20 years but it has encompassed all the aspects of our life – whether it is about booking a taxi, buying new clothes or ordering pizza. Today, we can hardly imagine life without internet. Yes, it has made life easier and much more convenient but has a darker side as well.A study published in the Science Mag suggests Google is spoiling the ability to think and our ability to recall information, though the study also tells us that Google improves certain kinds of memory such as methods for retrieving information, etc. A number of experts (Bauerlein, Brabazon, Carr, and others) dealing with the human mind and its way of working believe that the Internet and information and communication technologies (ICTs) have changed our reading habits from careful reading to ‘skimming’. Trevor Baylis, the inventor of the wind-up radio believes children are spending too much time in front of the screens which is robbing them off their creative and practical skills.

Here are some ways the Internet might be affecting our thought process and our creativity:

Rerouting the Mind

A study by the Science Mag indicates that the Internet is not necessarily making us dumb; it is changing the way how we remember things. According to Ars Technica, ‘people are recalling information less; but they know where to find the information they have forgotten.’ So it is about whether the change is beneficial for the human brain or not.

Multi-tasking Might be Harmful

Scientists have found that multi-tasking might reduce our ability to retain memories. A study indicates, juggling too many tasks at a time can divide attention and affect learning and performance. The study also reveals that we may have a harder time with distractions as we get old.

The Brain Works Differently

It is true that the capabilities of the human brain have changed over time, but the changes are not all derogatory. Some capabilities have improved over time – for instance of someone asks you a question, you may not think about the actual answer, but think about where to find the information quickly. You may think about the keywords that will fetch you the exact information. The human brain adapts to the present situation and works accordingly.

The Internet Influences Our Thinking

A lot of articles on the Internet talk about impacting the customer thoughts and compelling them to think in a specific manner that is beneficial to some entities (brands and companies). Say, for example, a company posts online ads, promotes services/ products on social media, acquires likes and comments and does everything to woo the potential customer. This means the customer is made to believe that the service/ product is good enough so they can invest in it.

The Internet is Highly Addictive

Believe it or not, the effects of the Internet addiction are near-identical to that of cocaine and heroin. Internet addicts show signs of withdrawal when they are unable to get online. Getting addicted too much can cause mental disorder can change the way people think and perceive things.

However, there is no definitive proof that the technology is killing our creativity and making us think less, but it is definitely changing the way people think. Hence, while it is good to use internet and keep yourself updated, too much addiction can be harmful!