Mr. Malesh
English 1020
16 September 2014
Google: A Double Edged Sword Just how often do you find yourself uttering the ever so popular words “Google it”? For myself, the answer is more than I would like to admit. The amount of times that people search Google for quick answers to questions is a topic that is on the rise. Some may argue that Google is causing us to become more stupid, where as others argue that it can make us smarter. While both sides make valid points to support their argument, I am in the middle when it comes to the effect google has on us as users. Those like Nicholas Carr, author of Is Google Making Us Stupid?, who argue that Google is making us stupid argue with the point that at one point or another, reading long articles or books used to be easy for them, but no thanks to Google that has changed. “Immersing myself in a book or a lengthy article used to be easy. My mind would get caught up in the narrative or the turns of the argument, and I’d spend hours strolling through long stretches of prose. That’s rarely the case anymore. Now my concentration often starts to drift after two or three pages,”(Carr 1). Due to the quick and easy access provided by Google, Carr and others say that they are fidgety and often find themselves looking for other things…show more content… While both sides make valid points to support their argument, I am in the middle when it comes to the effect google has on us as users. It is true that younger. more technology based generations seem to struggle more with concentration, which I believe goes hand in hand with the ability to retain information, but on the other hand, having Google always available could help those who have these issues. Rather than saying Google is specifically making us stupid or smart, I believe the issue is that of a double edged sword, and there are definite advantages and disadvantages to