Generation Z is the first generation in modern history to show lower cognitive abilities than the one before it, according to neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, who testified before the U.S. Senate in January 2026. Data show that Gen Z scores lower than Millennials in attention, memory, reading, math, problem-solving, and overall IQ—even though they have spent more years in formal education.
Dr. Horvath links this decline mainly to heavy use of digital technology in schools. He explains that the human brain learns best through direct human interaction and deep focus, not constant screen exposure. Research from around 80 countries shows academic performance tends to drop once digital devices become common in classrooms, especially for students who use computers five or more hours a day for school.
The decline began around 2010, when many schools introduced one-to-one device programs. According to Dr. Horvath, the problem is not poor teaching, but a mismatch between how the brain develops and how digital platforms are designed—encouraging distraction, shallow reading, and rapid task-switching instead of deep thinking.
Experts warn that many Gen Z students are overconfident despite these cognitive challenges and may not realize the impact of screen overuse. With teens spending more than half their waking hours on screens, experts call the situation a “societal emergency” and urge policymakers to limit or rethink technology use in education, warning that continuing current practices is not progress, but a serious risk to learning.
