Being connected to our Twitter and Facebook profiles at all times makes us seem smarter, but it actually undermines our intellectual abilities, according to a new study published by the Royal Society . Social networks are a primary source of information for many users, although some studies claim that we read news without intending to and that in reality we always connect to find out what our acquaintances are doing. Whether by chance or not, reading the articles published by our contacts makes us aware of what is happening, but does not sharpen our intellect, since the overinformation to which we expose ourselves through the networks reduces our concentration , contemplation and reflection , has shown this work.
To obtain this conclusion, the researchers interviewed a group of 100 university students divided into five groups using different social networks and assigned at random. Half of the volunteers were connected to everyone else, while the remaining 50 percent had no connection whatsoever with the rest. The scientists asked the participants a series of questions based on analytical reasoning to test their intuitive level. The results showed that the former were more likely to reproduce the correct responses of their contacts than to reason their own. Social media helped volunteers choose better answers, but exempted them from applying their own analytical reasoning.
The tendency to copy ” makes us appear smarter when in fact we are thinking less and less, ” the study authors conclude. In view of the finding, perhaps we should look for alternative sources of information and desist in our efforts to appear intellect in our digital profiles, especially men, who are the ones who try to appear more erudite.
