The U.S. spent $30 billion to ditch textbooks for laptops and tablets, but the result is a generation less cognitively capable than their parents. This is the story of a failed educational experiment, one that has left a generation struggling with the very tools meant to empower them. The question remains: How did we get here? And what can be done to fix it?
The Rise of EdTech
In 2002, Maine became the first state to implement a statewide laptop program, aiming to put the internet at the fingertips of more children. By 2016, 66,000 laptops and tablets had been distributed to Maine students, mirroring efforts across the country. The U.S. spent over $30 billion on educational technology in 2024, a testament to the belief that technology would revolutionize learning.
However, the outcome has been far from revolutionary. Psychologists and learning experts now see a different picture than the one envisioned by then-Governor Angus King. Instead of empowering a generation with access to more knowledge, technology has had the opposite effect.
The Cognitive Decline of Gen Z
Neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, stating that Gen Z is less cognitively capable than previous generations. Standardized test scores, including literacy and numeracy, have dipped, indicating a decline in cognitive capability over the last decade. Horvath blamed unfettered access to technology, particularly the introduction of the iPhone in 2007, for atrophying learning capabilities.
The Problem with Screen Time
Horvath's concerns are echoed by Jean Twenge, a psychology professor studying generational differences. Twenge argues that sustained attention to a singular subject is anathema to how technology has been deployed today. She highlights the addictive nature of many apps, including social media and gaming platforms, designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible.
A Baylor University study found that TikTok required the least amount of effort to use, even less than Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, by balancing relevant videos with surprising and unexpected content. This ease of use contributes to social media addiction, with 1,600 plaintiffs across 350 families and 250 school districts filing a lawsuit against Meta, Snap, TikTok, and YouTube for creating addictive platforms leading to mental health challenges.
The Way Forward
Horvath proposed a range of solutions to address the tech crisis in the classroom. He suggested imposing efficacy standards to fund research on effective digital tools and limiting tracking behavior and data collection on minors. Some schools have taken matters into their own hands, banning cellphones during instructional time and limiting their use in the classroom.
Ultimately, Horvath argues that the loss of critical thinking and learning skills is less a personal failure and more a policy one. He calls the generation of Americans educated with gadgets victims of a failed pedagogical experiment, urging them to get mad and demand change.
As we grapple with the implications of this failed experiment, one thing is clear: the impact of technology on learning is complex and multifaceted. It is a crisis that requires a comprehensive approach, one that involves rethinking educational policies and prioritizing the well-being of our children.
