In recent years, the term «brain decay» has become prevalent when discussing the impacts of digital technologies on humans. Many are concerned that excessive screen usage reduces our attention span, impairs memory, and may even lower IQ. However, scientific studies do not confirm these fears. A comprehensive study from 2023 involving 12.0 children found no evidence that screen time negatively affects the functional connectivity of the brain. Researchers could not detect any changes in the way different brain areas communicate or that children’s mental health deteriorated due to technology. Yet, many still believe in the harmful effects of digital devices.
Numerous articles are based on assumptions rather than actual evidence. One of the most well-known theories, which suggests that the use of emails lowers IQ more than marijuana use, turned out to be false — it was merely a marketing strategy. Other studies linking the increase in smartphone usage to a deterioration in mental health are misleading. Just because two phenomena occur simultaneously does not mean that one causes the other. Moreover, technology also has its benefits. People with fast internet access often report that they are happier and more socially connected. Children who use technology for learning achieve better results and are better prepared for the modern world.
Scientists emphasize that it is not screen time itself that is the problem, but the way it is used. Aimless scrolling on social media can indeed have negative effects on concentration. However, when the internet is used for education or communication, there is no evidence of harmful effects. The idea that technology «destroys our brain» is therefore not supported by scientific findings, but rather by fear and panic. The key is that we use devices consciously: We should control them — not the other way around.
