Buổi 22: Reading – Yes/No/Not Given nâng cao: quan điểm tác giả về điện thoại thông minh

Are smartphones really making us less intelligent?

(Bài viết ý kiến tự viết; tác giả giả định.)

A Hardly a week goes by without a new headline warning that smartphones are destroying our ability to concentrate. We are told that our attention spans are shrinking, that children can no longer read whole books and that adults check their phones hundreds of times a day. Some of these concerns are reasonable. Others, I believe, are greatly exaggerated.

B It is hard to argue with the claim that phones can be distracting. Anyone who has tried to write a report while their phone buzzes with messages knows how difficult it is to stay focused. Sensibly, some schools now ask pupils to leave their phones in lockers during lessons, and many workplaces encourage staff to switch off notifications when they need to concentrate.

C However, I remain unconvinced by the argument that smartphones are making people less intelligent. Every new technology, from the printing press to television, has been accused of damaging the mind. In each case, people eventually learned to use it sensibly. Moreover, phones give us instant access to dictionaries, maps, online courses and the news – resources that, a generation ago, many people could not easily reach.

D The real issue, in my view, is not the device itself but how it is designed. Many apps are deliberately built to keep users scrolling for as long as possible, because this increases advertising income. Surprisingly, very few governments have introduced rules on this kind of design, even though they regulate many other products that can be harmful when used too much.

E Parents are often advised to ban phones completely until children reach their teens. I understand the reasoning, but a total ban may simply make phones more attractive and leave children unprepared to manage them later. Teaching children to use technology in moderation – and setting a good example ourselves – seems a more realistic approach.

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