There are many times where instead of logically thinking of something, we instantly don’t think about an answer, but always say to ourselves “Google it” or “Hey, Siri.” Technology has gone too far with making people dumber.

It is no shock that students cheat on tests. We rely on it a lot sometimes because it’s just there. According to Common Sense Media, a study from a poll which was conducted by The Benenson Strategy Group showed that more than 35% of teens have admitted to cheating with cell phones. As well, more than half admit to using the Internet to cheat.

This study was published in 2009, so it can only be imagined the increase now. There are some times where we know that our grades will be saved since we know the quiz will be on Google Classroom where you can easily open a new tab. Some students immediately rely on Google for the answers because they know it is there and do not even worry about studying.

Programs like Canvas, stop cheating by alerting the teacher if a new tab is opened during an online test. There is an “Activity Log” made just for those instances when you want to copy and paste the answer into Google. Noting a “stopping viewing the Canvas quiz-taking page.” Before, teachers did not have to worry about cheating to this level.

It is also totally arguable that technology helps us in everyday life. In fact, it can make life easier. GPS, recipes and even ways to study are some of the many benefits of having the Internet attached to our hip. But, building an unhealthy relationship with it to the point of dependency can be dangerous. We could lose our curiosity and ability to imagine if we know that it is always easy to gather an answer.

Even broader, after high school, we are not always going to have the technology to help us out. As adults in the real world, websites and Google cannot give us the skills needed to problem solve. If we are predestined to be wholly dependent on those services, we are lacking the real skills. The skills of doing something independently and being able to think without jumping straight to the keyboard.

Googling our answers whether it be on the computer or the phone is stopping humans from studying because we rely too heavily on it. With tests, technology is so easily available to find the answers that we are not motivated to study or have our own thoughts. We rely on technology too much.

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Editorial Board Vote:

Agree – 5

Disagree – 1