Gen Z Is the First Generation Dumber Than Their Parents

Neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath found that Gen Z scored lower on standardized academic tests across attention, memory, literacy, numeracy, and IQ than previous generations—the first time in modern history this has occurred. He attributes the decline to excessive screen time and educational approaches emphasizing technology and bite-sized content over sustained attention, deep reading, and rigorous problem-solving. The trend appears globally across roughly 80 countries, suggesting that digital environments in schools and daily life are reducing cognitive development rather than enhancing it.