EmbeddingGemma 2: an open, lightweight multimodal embedding model
deepmind.google·6d ago
AI Engineering
Hacker News·Sep 6·5 min read
Doomscrolling Ourselves to Death
TL;DR
James Marriott's new book, The New Dark Ages, explores the alarming decline in literacy among children, particularly teenage boys, as they increasingly consume mindless media like YouTube instead of reading. The book presents a coherent and entertaining argument about the cultural implications of this trend.
✦ Why It Matters
Encourage children to read by introducing them to engaging books that spark their interest today.
Key Takeaways
- Encourage daily reading habits in children to combat literacy decline.
- Limit screen time to improve attention spans and cognitive abilities.
- Discuss the importance of critical thinking in everyday conversations.
- Explore literature to enhance empathy and understanding of diverse perspectives.
Full Summary
Marriott's work highlights a significant drop in reading comprehension and pleasure reading among both children and adults, attributing this decline primarily to the influence of television and smartphones. He references Neil Postman's 1985 critique, Amusing Ourselves to Death, which warned that television's triviality undermines public discourse.
Data shows that as television became prevalent, reading time decreased, leading to a 'reverse Flynn Effect' where IQ scores declined. The advent of smartphones exacerbated the issue, with users checking their devices an average of 144 times daily.
Marriott argues that this cultural shift has resulted in a less informed electorate, threatening the foundations of democracy and critical thought.