Neuroscientist: Gen Z “Least Intelligent,” Breaking Historic Trend

A new study led by neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath posits that Generation Z, those born from 1997 to 2010, exhibits lower cognitive ability than preceding generations, primarily attributing this to excessive dependence on technology.

Speaking to the New York Post, Horvath stated, “A sad fact our generation has to face is that our kids are less cognitively capable than we were at their age. Every generation has outperformed their parents until Gen Z.”

He identified key deficiencies in areas like attention span, problem-solving skills, and declining literacy and numeracy. He also observed a troubling overconfidence, noting, “Most of these young people are overconfident about how smart they are. The smarter people think they are, the dumber they actually are.”

The research highlights that teenagers now spend more than half their waking hours on screens, a habit that encourages skimming content rather than deep, focused learning. Horvath explained, “Humans are biologically programmed to learn from other humans and from deep study, not flipping through screens for bullet point summaries.”

Data gathered from 80 countries indicates that pervasive use of digital tools in education correlates with poorer academic outcomes. Horvath critiqued this trend, arguing, “Rather than determining what we want our children to do and gearing education towards that, we are redefining education to better suit the tool. That is not progress; that is surrender.”

He concluded by calling on governments to enact policies that would help the subsequent Generation Alpha develop their cognitive potential and avoid a similar pattern of decline.