Study shows Gen Z less intelligent than older generations

A leading neuroscientist, Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, has said Generation Z is performing worse academically than previous generations.

Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2010, is the first modern generation to score lower on standardized academic tests than the generation before it.

Dr. Horvath said Gen Z students underperform in attention, memory, reading, mathematics, executive function and IQ tests. He linked the decline to excessive screen time and digital learning.

According to him, teenagers spend more than half of their waking hours on screens, which reduces deep learning and critical thinking. He believes students now skim information online instead of studying thoroughly.

He told lawmakers that for over a century, each generation improved academically  until Gen Z. He added that similar trends are seen in many countries where digital technology is widely used in classrooms.

Dr. Horvath said he supports technology but wants schools to reduce screen-based learning and focus more on rigorous study methods. He hopes changes will be made to improve outcomes for future generations.