Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: Twitter, Stupid, Facebook, Smark, Psychologist | Themes: The Internet, Software, Networking, Digital Entertainment
While Facebook is good for the brain, apparently texting and Twitter will make you a moron.
A psychologist is claiming that micro-blogging on Twitter will make its users stupid. If the news isn't depressing enough, text messaging and watching YouTube drains just as much intelligence, or rather, will likely weaken "working memory" according to the good doctor. However, there's good news for Internet surfers looking for something to do: apparently spending loads of time on Facebook is just as healthy as playing a game of Tetris or solving a Sudoku puzzle.
As reported by the Telegraph, Dr. Tracy Alloway, working out of the University of Stirling in Scotland, says that working memory is the ability to remember information, and actually put that information to use. After extensive research in working memory, she believes that success and happiness stem from this ability rather than having high IQs. She also believes that certain video games can train working memory, especially those that involve planning and strategy.
Although Facebook offers "thinking" games such as Sudoku, managing friends and dates on the social website exercises the working memory. Twitter, YouTube and texting, on the other hand, isn't exactly healthy. "On Twitter you receive an endless stream of information, but it's also very succinct,'' said Dr Alloway. ''You don't have to process that information. Your attention span is being reduced and you're not engaging your brain and improving nerve connections.''
Dr. Alloway's research included an eight-week training session with children aged 11 to 14 which focused on increasing the performance of their working memory. Upon completion, the children saw 10 point improvements in IQ, numeracy and literacy tests.
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I wouldn't doubt it honestly, it's kinda on the same lines as rap, how much can you butcher the language before you begin to lose something, be it language skills, IQ, general intelligence, common sense, or all of the above. Being a high school Junior, I am sometimes appalled at the amount of people who just can't spell for beans. It's sad really. Now I don't text much, and even when I use Facebook, AIM, or text, it's FULL words but with abbreviated grammar and sentence structure (if any). And I'm still a good English student, none the worse because I don't over-do it. i has good english, how 'bout u?
whut? twitter dosnt makes me stuupids? i dun kno wut he talkin boout. he dumb psicoligizt.
... only if you use it to an extreme. Just like drinking beer, it makes you fat and kills your braincells... if you use it to an extreme.
I believe intelligence is also genetic. If you aren't genius, you will never be one. Same goes for if you aren't a moron (ie: actual retard), you will never be one (assuming you don't get into anything major ie accident).
And sadly, when folks point out a spelling error or an inappropriately used word, they are labeled as a grammar nazi. It's too bad when all they wanted to do was help others not be so stoooopid.
Yep, the truth comes out. But it kind of alarms me about YouTube doing the same thing. I spend lots of time on YouTube but it depends on what you watch... like if all you watch is internet viral videos... yep...
About youtube making you dumb.... uh... duh. It's the same as sitting around watching TV all day.
Instant gratification = bad for attention spa.... ooh! A birdie!
I'm pretty sure we all knew that already. Then again, considering the popularity of youtube, twitter, and texting, maybe we've forgotte... PENNY!!!
Well... you can't deny it... Twitter actually makes peoples stupid.
twitter is for twats, of course it makes you stupid.
i can proudly say that, while i'm an IT technician who works for an ISP spending a majority of my waking hours on the internet, I have yet so much as bring up the stupid site.
I don't use twitter or any of the other social networks. I do not have a need for any of them.
I truly believe ALL social networking sites are "NOW" ridiculous. When they first were introduced, they were "good ideas". Now it is just plain RI-FU**ING-DICULOUS. Twitter?? TWITTER?? WHY DIDN'T YOU LEAVE ME A TWEET TODAY! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! GET A LIFE!
Sure, watching Timbelake's upcoming Facebook movie will definitely improve your intelligence!!
I'm a 15 and don't give a poo. My attention span is short eno... SQUIRREL!?
Does anyone else wonder if Twitter makes people stupid, or is it just stupid people that Twitter?
I wonder how many of you twittered about this article.
sounds like an RTS is the perfect type of game for this!
Lol, I see a twitter ad in the top left of Tom's homepage then look down to see. Twitter makes you stupid! Awesome.
Who actually uses twitter? i know it is always in the media but no one I know uses it.
Chris 19, University of Texas in Arlington
And to think all those days I skipped school to play master of orion, Sim city or civilization back in the 90's was actually more productive than going to school. LOL well I got all C's and D's in high school never went to college. Yet I am a self taught engineer who makes double than my wife who has a Master's.
Finally Some one speaks out against this. I hope that this crap will be dropped so those damn retards from MSNBC, CNN, and FOX News can stop talking about it. "oh John, from Tweeter, says blah blah..." who cares?
also reported... "porn makes you horny"
I remember reading a report on Alzheimer's which states the best way to prevent the disease is to be multi-lingual or play video games...seriously.
On another note, I haven't been on Facebook for 3 weeks and I feel happier.
And to think all those days I skipped school to play master of orion, Sim city or civilization back in the 90's was actually more productive than going to school. LOL well I got all C's and D's in high school never went to college. Yet I am a self taught engineer who makes double than my wife who has a Master's.
Such is life; A-grade students work for C-grade students
You can't beat face to face conversation.
And to think all those days I skipped school to play master of orion, Sim city or civilization back in the 90's was actually more productive than going to school. LOL well I got all C's and D's in high school never went to college. Yet I am a self taught engineer who makes double than my wife who has a Master's.
if you enjoy sim city or civilization then you understand handling complex situations better than 99% of working society.
Different games develops different skills. They might not be valued at IBM or some other hotshot company, but it certainly adds to being a more capable person. Not to say you should spent your life playing games but it would be wrong to view it a detriment.
Everyone knows that in order to become a twitter user you must meet one of three requirements.
1) You must firmly believe that other people care about whatever BS you write.
2) You are easily influenced by fads and trends you don't really understand.
3) You're a malignant narcissist.
News reporters meet all three requirements, which is why Twitter in on the news 24/7.
You can't beat face to face conversation.
unless the dude you're talking to is extremely ugly.
I find "Dr." Tracy Alloway's conclusions to be both spurious and trite. The quality of intelligence, or lack thereof, is not something that is under the control of the individual. Basically, you got what you got when your DNA coalesced after your mom and dad got busy. Nuture affects on intelligence simply act to maximize or minimize your potential, but all of that is pretty much set by the time you would even be able to use Twitter/Facebook/Myspace etc.
Futhermore, the conclusion that Youtube is bad for you is nothing more than the recycled nonsense from decades past about how "TV is bad for you" and how it will "make you stupid" and/or "rot your brain." Today, it is will known that those arguments are completely fallacious. And by extension, so are the good doctor's conclusions. I suspect she is just trying to establish herself by getting her name mentioned in some quasi-controversial fashion with the popular social-networking sites that seem to dominate the news these days.
I wouldn't doubt it honestly, it's kinda on the same lines as rap, how much can you butcher the language before you begin to lose something, be it language skills, IQ, general intelligence, common sense, or all of the above. Being a high school Junior, I am sometimes appalled at the amount of people who just can't spell for beans. It's sad really. Now I don't text much, and even when I use Facebook, AIM, or text, it's FULL words but with abbreviated grammar and sentence structure (if any). And I'm still a good English student, none the worse because I don't over-do it. i has good english, how 'bout u?
I really like your Blanket statement that "Rap" butchers the english language.
Being someone who enjoys music throughout a vast range of genres, I find it funny that your concerns are "General Intelligence" and "Common sense", but obviously not generalized ignorance.
Let's get things in the proper perspective.
1) Reading is not a cause of intelligence, but rather a sign of intelligence.
2) Using Twitter is not a cause of stupidity, but rather a sign of stupidity.
I find "Dr." Tracy Alloway's conclusions to be both spurious and trite. (followed by additional questionable intuits)
The brain's inclusion in the bromide "use it or lose it" is neither new nor novel. Mental performance is demonstrably improved or diminished by activities that include or exclude, respectively, the regular performance of complex tasks. Therapies exploiting this relationship are used to improve the prognosis for a number of pathologies. While I've not heard anyone argue that it actually changes IQ, I'm not sure that the distinction between potential and effective stupidity is of interest to anyone other than clinicians.
And on top of all that, you're a weenie-head.
(...misc blather deleted for brevity...) I'm not sure that the distinction between potential and effective stupidity is of interest to anyone other than clinicians.
I agree, which is why I posited that she's trying to gain recognition by making an association with certain facets of pop-culture. I fail to see why you are taking exception to what I posted when you are, fundamentally, saying the same thing (except with a focus on maximizing or minimizing potential). Or did you just want the opportunity to parade around a few terms that you learned in your clinical psychology class?
And on top of all that, you're a weenie-head.
Takes one to know one.
Or did you just want the opportunity to parade around a few terms that you learned in your clinical psychology class
I'm neither a clinical psychologist nor have I ever taken classes in that field; I read, and avoid Twitter and So You Think You Can Dance.
However, significant evidence contradicts your claim that television is not harmful. The link between television and delayed language development in children appears to be strong, as are negative effects on dementia patients. Persons who are not in one of those two groups might be more resilient, but resilience is not immunity.