In an era dominated by smartphones and social media, excessive screen time and algorithms a handful of major tech companies often referred to as Big Tech, including giants like Google, Meta, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft shape much of our daily information consumption and interactions. Their algorithms, designed to maximise engagement, keep billions scrolling through endless feeds, triggering dopamine releases that mimic addictive patterns. Recent concerns have escalated: studies indicate that the current generation, particularly Gen Z (born 1997–2012), may be the first in over a century to show lower average cognitive performance than previous ones, marking a reversal of the long-standing Flynn effect.
This raises a profound question: are tech products not just influencing, but subtly controlling our minds and in doing so, contributing to a decline in intelligence?
Also in Explained | Anthropic’s Claude AI and Agentic Misalignment: Concerning Behaviors in AI Safety Testing 2026
The Power of Algorithms: How Big Tech Influences Behaviour
Tech platforms employ sophisticated algorithms to curate content that captures attention. Features like infinite scrolling, personalised recommendations, and notifications exploit the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine with each like, share, or video. Experts describe this as creating “dopamine-driven feedback loops,” similar to those in gambling or substance addiction.
Research highlights how these designs foster dependency. Social media triggers reward pathways akin to addictive substances, altering behaviour by prioritising short bursts of pleasure over sustained focus. While not literal “mind control,” this persuasive technology coined “brain hacking” by some insiders profoundly shapes thoughts, opinions, and habits. A handful of companies steer what billions see, think, and do daily, raising ethical questions about autonomy in the digital age.
The Alarming Evidence: Declining Cognitive Abilities in Recent Generations
For much of the 20th century, the Flynn effect described rising average IQ scores about three points per decade attributed to better nutrition, education, and environmental factors. However, recent data shows this trend reversing in many developed nations.
In 2026, neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath testified to the US Senate that Gen Z is the first generation since records began in the late 1800s to score lower on IQ tests and core skills than their parents or millennials. Declines appear in attention, memory, reading comprehension, math, problem-solving, and overall IQ, despite Gen Z spending more time in formal education.
Studies confirm drops of around five points per generation since the early 2000s in some populations. Worldwide assessments like PISA reveal stagnating or declining scores in reading and math. This “reverse Flynn effect” is most pronounced in younger cohorts exposed to digital media from early childhood.
Linking Screens to Cognitive Decline: The Role of Digital Habits
Experts increasingly point to technology as a key factor. Over-reliance on short-form content TikTok videos, reels, and summaries reduces deep reading and sustained attention. The human brain, evolved for narrative and complex processing, struggles with fragmented information, leading to weaker memory retention and critical thinking.
Excessive screen time correlates with “cognitive atrophy,” where skills diminish from disuse. Recent MIT and Harvard studies on AI tools show “cognitive offloading” depending on devices for answers, reduces motivation and impairs independent problem-solving. Doomscrolling and constant notifications fragment focus, mirroring symptoms of reduced executive function.
For Gen Z, growing up with smartphones means less time for traditional brain-building activities like reading books or unstructured play. This shift coincides with the intelligence plateau and reversal observed globally.
A Balanced View: Technology’s Double-Edged Sword
Technology offers undeniable benefits: instant access to knowledge, enhanced productivity, and global connectivity. However, unchecked use driven by profit-motivated designs poses risks. The concern isn’t that tech giants intend harm, but that engagement-driven models prioritise time spent over user wellbeing.
Emerging research on AI reliance suggests similar “cognitive debt,” where over-dependence erodes skills. As algorithms grow more sophisticated, the potential for subtle influence increases, prompting calls for regulation and digital literacy.
The evidence of declining cognitive metrics in younger generations is a wake-up call. While not solely caused by technology, factors like education changes and lifestyle play roles the correlation with digital immersion is striking. Big Tech’s grip on attention isn’t outright mind control, but its impact on behaviour and brain development is profound.
To safeguard intelligence, individuals can adopt mindful habits: limit screen time, prioritise deep reading, and engage in offline activities. Policymakers should push for ethical algorithm design and media literacy education.
The digital age holds immense promise, but only if we use it intentionally. Without balance, we risk a future where convenience comes at the cost of our sharpest asset: the human mind.
Also in Explained | Is the 2026 AI-Driven Memory Chip Crisis Making Everyday Gadgets Unaffordable?
