Reading on the web is almost certainly affecting the way we process information, but it’s not making us stupid. Instead, it’s changing the way we’re smart. Rather than storehouses of in-depth information, the web is turning our brains into indexes. These days, it’s not what you know — it’s what you know you can access, and cross reference.
Ezra takes a more nuanced approach to the issue but my experience is very similar to Suderman's. I read a lot of books, I also read a lot of blogs and online news and a few magazines. When I'm in a discussion or debate with someone in real life I carry enough information in my brain to have a reasonably informed conversation about a host of subject matters. If the debate is online I can gather data, articles or other information to support my broader point fairly quickly. I remember enough detail to make finding sources again easy but I don't retain enough detail to regurgitate numerous specific data points off the top of my head - like an index.
My experience though is that most conversations or debates don't require detail, demonstrating a working knowledge of the issue is usually enough to carry the day.
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