The Internet: An Accelerator or a Decelerator of Intelligence?

The Internet: An Accelerator or a Decelerator of Intelligence?In recent years, with the rapid development of internet technology, information explosion, fragmented reading, and the proliferation of social media have sparked a heated debate about "national intelligence." Professor Zheng Yongnian, a scholar in Singapore, has even bluntly pointed out that we are entering an era of "declining national intelligence

The Internet: An Accelerator or a Decelerator of Intelligence?

In recent years, with the rapid development of internet technology, information explosion, fragmented reading, and the proliferation of social media have sparked a heated debate about "national intelligence." Professor Zheng Yongnian, a scholar in Singapore, has even bluntly pointed out that we are entering an era of "declining national intelligence." His views have attracted widespread attention and controversy, forcing us to reconsider the impact of the internet on ourselves.

The Myth of Intelligence: The Double-Edged Sword Effect of the Internet

Professor Zheng Yongnian's views are not baseless. He believes that the information overload in the internet age makes it difficult for people to distinguish between truth and falsehood, making them more susceptible to being drawn to fragmented content, and therefore losing the ability to think deeply and make independent judgments. This is like a vast ocean of information that seems to encompass everything but actually hides turbulent undercurrents.

The free flow of information is intended to allow people to access more knowledge and broaden their horizons. However, the information explosion has also brought with it the challenge of discernment. Information that is difficult to distinguish between true and false, like "information garbage," floods the internet and makes it difficult for people to filter out truly valuable content. Even more frightening is that due to the disordered spread and over-consumption of information, people are gradually losing their ability to judge the authenticity of information and are more easily misled by false information, ultimately falling into a cognitive labyrinth.

The wanton behavior brought about by anonymity is another major factor contributing to the "decline of national intelligence." The anonymity of the internet allows people to shed the constraints of real life, making it easier to release emotions and make extreme statements. These statements, devoid of rational thinking and a sense of responsibility, are often aggressive, emotional, and even illogical. This kind of "cyber carnival" unrestraint not only pollutes the online environment but also lowers the overall level of civilization in society, negatively impacting people's values and morals.

Fragmented reading is the most prominent reading method in the internet age, seemingly convenient and efficient, but it also harbors the fatal flaw of a "killer of intelligence." Short and concise fragmented content is more easily eye-catching and satisfies people's need for immediate information acquisition. However, this fast-food style of reading is difficult to cultivate people's ability to think deeply and reason logically, and it is even more difficult to establish a complete knowledge system. Over time, people's attention is constantly scattered, their thinking abilities are weakened, ultimately leading to a decline in thinking abilities, making them unable to handle complex problems or contemplate profound issues.

Guarding Wisdom: Staying Sober in the Information Flood

In the internet age, the information overload presents many challenges, but we are not without options. As Professor Zheng Yongnian said, in an era of information explosion, each of us should become a "warrior guarding wisdom," learning to stay sober and rational in the information flood.

Firstly, we must learn to filter information and discern right from wrong. Faced with a sea of information, we need to have a strong information identification ability and learn to filter out truly valuable content from the information flood. This requires us to cultivate critical thinking, learn to question the source of information, verify the authenticity of information, and avoid being deceived by false information.

Secondly, we must maintain independent thinking and refuse to follow the crowd. In the age of fragmented information, we need to maintain the ability to think independently, not blindly follow online trends, and not be swayed by the opinions of others. We must learn to think independently, form our own opinions, and dare to express our thoughts, so that we are not carried away by the information flood.

Thirdly, we must strengthen deep reading and improve our thinking abilities. We should abandon fragmented reading methods, read more in-depth articles and books, cultivate the habit of deep thinking, train our logical thinking and critical thinking abilities, and truly improve our cognitive level.

Fourthly, we must focus on value construction and resist vulgar content. The internet is filled with all kinds of vulgar content that often uses curiosity and stimulation as bait to attract people's attention. Faced with such content, we must have a clear understanding, not be attracted to it, and not be influenced by it. We must focus on building our own values, resist vulgar content, and maintain a positive outlook and values in life.

The Future of the Internet: Technology Empowerment, Wisdom Leading the Way

The internet is not a monster. It has powerful enabling capabilities. The key is how to use it correctly and how to combine the power of technology with the guidance of wisdom.

The internet can be a tool for learning, allowing us to access more information and gain a broader knowledge horizon. We can use internet platforms for online learning, leverage high-quality knowledge resources to improve our own qualities, expand our knowledge base, and enhance our personal competitiveness.

The internet can be a platform for expression, allowing us to share our views, exchange ideas, and collide with wisdom. We can use internet platforms for intellectual exchange, express our opinions, share experiences, engage in in-depth discussions with others, and spark intellectual sparks through exchange and mutual progress.

The internet can be a bridge of connection, allowing us to transcend geographical, cultural, and linguistic boundaries and connect with people around the world. We can use internet platforms to build relationships, expand social circles, understand different cultures, learn different knowledge, and enhance our internationalization skills.

Conclusion: Embracing the Internet, Protecting Wisdom

In the internet age, opportunities and challenges coexist. The challenges posed by information overload and fragmented reading cannot be ignored, but neither should we be overly panicked. As long as we maintain a clear understanding, learn to filter information, think independently, and improve our own qualities, we can stay rational and wise in the information flood and use the internet's powerful force to achieve self-growth and social progress.

Ultimately, the internet will become a key engine driving social development, and each of us should become guardians of wisdom, working together to build a more rational, civilized, and harmonious cyberspace.

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