Student Research Guide WQ25/ How the Internet Affect Metacognition

Metacognition in the Digital Age: How the Internet Influences Our Minds

 This is a student created research guide for English 102 & Library 201 Learning community

This guide will explore how smart devices affect our metacognition.

The purpose of this guide is to explain how phones and the internet as a whole influence our minds and the control we have over them.

• The research thesis of this guide is to explore how the internet changes the way people think by increasing reliance on outside information, reducing deep thinking and self-control, and influencing how the mind is managed. This guide will examine the cognitive effects of internet use and its impact on metacognition and independent thought.

1. How does the internet and smartphones affect or influence metacognition?
2. Does frequent internet use reduce the ability to engage in deep, focused thinking?
3. How does internet usage affect attention span and the ability to concentrate on complex tasks?

As the internet becomes more significant and a part of everyone's lives, it changes how we think and remember things. While the internet makes it easy to find information, it may also affect our ability to think critically, solve problems, and even rely on our memories. This paper goes over how the internet affects how we think about thinking (metacognition) and how much control we have over our minds. The research discusses how internet use affects our mental abilities, especially when remembering things and making decisions. The methodology involved reading multiple studies, academic articles, books, and even videos about how the internet changes our thoughts. The results show that while the internet makes things extremely easy to get information, it might make us less dependent on our memories and critical thinking skills. Over time, this could lead to shorter attention spans and weaker thinking skills. The paper suggests that we need to find a better balance. Using the internet as a tool to help us learn, but not letting it replace our ability to think for ourselves. More research is needed to understand how long-term internet use is affecting our thinking skills and how we can protect our mental abilities in this digital world.   

The internet has changed the way people think, remember things, and make decisions, often without them even realizing it. Metacognition is the ability to think about how we think, including skills like self-awareness, problem-solving, and critical thinking. These skills help people learn and make good decisions. But because information is always at our fingertips, people rely less on their memory and thinking skills, using the internet like an extra brain. Instead of analyzing information or remembering facts, many just do quick searches, which can make them less independent thinkers and hurt their ability to focus. While experts study metacognition, they don’t all agree on one definition, making it hard to measure how technology affects it. Still, research shows that the internet is changing how people process their thoughts. As technology becomes a bigger part of daily life, it’s important to understand how it’s affecting the way we think.

This video highlights key aspects of how the internet affects our brains, providing insight into its impact on cognitive functions like metacognition. It supports existing research by exploring the internet’s role in mental health issues, addiction, and its broader physical, social, and psychological effects.

Source citation:

"How Internet Manipulates Our Brain Functioning." Youtube, uploaded by STUDIO De CONTINUUM, 18 Jul. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLgem7s71Z4