A detailed analysis of The Shallow: What the Internet is doing to our brains by Carl explores the topic of the effects of the internet to human life to uncover facts, both positive and negative about the internet. From the book, one can tell that Carr has a protagonist stand against the internet despite noting a few positives on what it has done to technology, health, communication and even normal human living. Carr identifies that human brains and thinking have become dependent on the internet, an aspect that has reduced creativity and coming up with new knowledge (Carr, 2010, p8). The author however notes that it is through the same internet that most medical procedures like testing the brain have become successful. Carr makes it clear in the book that he is not a Luddite and he acknowledges that he cannot live without technology (Carr, 2010, p10). However, his point is for people to know that they are losing in exchange for the interrelated, dynamic, interconnected world that is fueled by the internet.
On a personal level, the internet has turned the thinking process from a complex process to a very simple process. According to Carr’s book, the internet is making people lazier because it does not allow one to think (Carr, 2010, p. 96). According to Carr, we are sabotaging ourselves by relying entirely on the internet, giving away the seriousness of sustained attention to the internet (Carr, 2010, p. 96). Despite the useful nature of the internet, the negative side effects outweigh the efficiencies, which is why the learning process is becoming less and less participatory and of quality. As an art teacher in the past, the internet gave information about social phenomenon and theories that explained events. After advancing to master’s level, where more details about explaining phenomenon, the internet has provided readily available information that can be accessed online so long as one has a device that accesses the internet this is of great benefit and we accept the technological advancement. Many psychological studies, neurobiological and educational research studies also point to the conclusion that the internet offers information but it is more disruptive, which does not allow the learner to concentrate.
Carr argues that the internet should not just be used to acquire information, instead, the information needs to be synthesized and criticized to identify gaps and any beneficial gains (Carr, 2010, p10). This relates directly that at master’s level, learners do not just use information from the internet and replicate it on their studies. Instead, learners are supposed to criticize and analyze theoretical postulates, assessing their strengths and disqualifying those that are weak. From Carr’s argument, at master’s level, learners are recommended to come up with their own explanations and theories or combine various theories in explaining events and phenomena in the society. Professionally, Carr argues that it is required that in the process of gaining knowledge, especially when it is for teaching other learners, there is need to look at information through different lenses and perspectives (Carr, 2010, p 19). In a critical perspective to Carr’s thinking, learners have different understanding potentials and can approach an issue from different angles. Therefore, for one to be able to answer the questions and prove the profession, the questions have to be answered correctly, which is only possible by integrating different facts about the issue. This is more specific when there is need for clarification. According to Carr, the internet only provides information but does not help in the clarification (Carr, 2010, p 12). Therefore, it requires mastery of content, which requires critical thinking and analysis based on read texts.
Carr’s most serious argument against the internet is that computers are slowly destroying the human power of concentration (Carr, 2010, p 19). The online internet world has only exposed the feeble nature of human attention because even the most minor temptations have become impossible to resist. It is the brain that is constantly being shaped by the experience of relying too much on the internet. Human beings have thus become servants of technology where their circuits are reprogramed using the same gadgets they make. However, Carl forgets to appreciate the fact that scientific research has shown that the internet does add knowledge and is good for the mind (Carr, 2010, p. 20). Therefore, at a professional level, handling master’s, it would only be critical to ensure that the learning process through the internet is of benefit and one does not get affected by its negative influences.
Eventually we find that a large part of the internet tends to be human with the capacity to read deeply and understand concepts (Carr, 2010, p. 152). Deep reading normally required sustained and unbroken attention with a focus on a single object in order to derive the maximum understanding ability of the concept in that time. Carr notes that since time immemorial, deep reading has allowed people to make their own associations and independent ideologies about specific issues (Carr, 2010, p. 154). This is what the internet is against. According to Carr, the internet has turned human beings into lazy objects who cannot even think on themselves and rely heavily on the internet (Carr, 2010, p. 154). From the text, it is clear that when people go online, they enter into an environment that promotes hurried thinking that is distracted, cursory reading as well as superficial learning. Therefore, the internet has made it impossible to develop deep reading.
References
Carr, N. (2010). The Shallows: What the Internet is doing to our brains. New York : W.W. Norton Publishers.
