IQ scores in the US have fallen for the first time in nearly 100 years, new research shows.
Researchers tried to find evidence that each generation is smarter than the last, known as the “Flynn effect”, but they found the opposite.
Researchers at the University of Oregon and Northwestern reviewed nearly 400,000 online IQ tests between 2006 and 2018.
Although they did not specify the exact decline, they said the biggest drops were seen in people between the ages of 18 and 22 and those with less education.
The research was conducted before the pandemic, which means that disruptions in education due to lockdowns may have further exacerbated it.
Between 2006 and 2018, 18- to 22-year-olds saw the biggest drop in IQ tests, according to a study
The Flynn effect is the idea that IQ scores increase over time, as shown above
Previous research has suggested that one reason may be the increasing dominance of the technology about our daily lives, shortening our attention spans and making us less likely to think deeply.
Some experts argue that technological leaps mean we have access to more information than ever before, which increases learning opportunities and can make us smarter.
The research was published in the journal Intelligence.
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Some skills, such as 3D spatial reasoning tests, showed an upward trend from 2011 to 2018.
But skills such as verbal reasoning, visual problem solving and testing number sequences all declined.
It could be that the results “indicate a change in the quality or content of teaching and assessment of skills,” they wrote in the conclusion.
IQ tests are not an infallible measure of intelligence and criticality, as they only look at a few skills.
Other studies over the years have shown that the Flynn effect may already be reversible outside the US.
A study in Finland found that IQ dropped by two points between 1997 and 2009.
In France, IQ scores fell by 3.8 IQ points between 1999 and 2009.
Other places, including the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark and Australia, have discovered similar results.
Scientists have previously warned that the internet and social media can make people think worse.
Academic and research presenter Professor Jim Al-Khalili said that with so much information “always reaching us,” we can increasingly only cope with bite-sized chunks of knowledge such as short tweets or two-minute videos.
He told MailOnline last April that despite our “massive increase in scientific knowledge… the human brain has not become bigger, more efficient or better than it did thousands of years ago”.
He added: “Because we use technology these days, you could say we’re getting dumber.
“Our attention span is shorter, we are not willing to spend time thinking carefully or discussing and debating.”
A previous study suggested that children who spent less than an hour each day using iPads and other devices had better developed brains than their peers.
Researchers in Illinois found that two-year-olds who limited screen time to 60 minutes and played traditional games for at least 15 minutes a day had better executive functioning than toddlers who spent more time on electronics.
They outperformed their peers in terms of memory, attention span, decision making and multitasking.
Playing outside or playing with traditional toys is believed to flood the brain with blood, enlarge blood vessels and strengthen neuron connections, making it easier for children to experience cognitive development.
Staring at electronics, on the other hand, does not stimulate the brain and is believed to thin the cerebral cortex, which controls critical thinking and reasoning.
According to figures, toddlers in the US spend an average of two and a half hours a day watching TV, iPads, mobile phones or video games.
In the UK, Ofcom estimates that three to four-year-olds spend three hours a day looking at screens.
Children’s screen time is believed to have increased significantly during the pandemic as homeschooling and lockdowns became common.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
