I don’t know about you, but I can barely remember my own kids’ shoe sizes anymore. Not because I don’t care, but because my brain has apparently decided Google has it covered. Need to know what time the meeting is? I’ll just search my email. Again. For the third time today. According to a study by Loh and Kanai (2016), this isn’t just forgetfulness, it’s actually part of how the Internet is reshaping the way we think.

In their research, Loh and Kanai talk about how our brains are adapting to this constant digital environment. We’re not storing information the same way we used to. Instead of remembering facts, we remember where to find them. It’s called “cognitive offloading,” and honestly, it makes me feel better about why I can quote every episode of FRIENDS but still can’t remember my Wi-Fi password.

The study also points out that our attention spans are shifting. We’ve become pros at multitasking, jumping between texts, tabs, and TikToks, but it comes at a cost. The more we split our attention, the harder it becomes to focus deeply on one thing. I feel like I always have a minimum of 5 tabs open on my phone and dozens more in my head.

The most eye-opening part? Internet use is literally changing the structure of our brains, especially the areas involved in attention and reward. And while that sounds scary, the researchers are clear: it’s not all bad. How we use the Internet matters. Some changes could be positive, as long as we stay aware and intentional.

So maybe the next time I instinctively reach for my phone in the carline, I’ll pause. Maybe I’ll give my brain a break, sit in the silence, and let it stretch a little. Who knows, maybe I’ll even remember the shoe sizes.

A great resource to check out more information on this topic is: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reference
Loh, K. K., & Kanai, R. (2016). How has the Internet reshaped human cognition? The Neuroscientist, 22(5), 506–520. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073858415595005