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Hawoy mag-isip!
FullyBooked
once displayed a sign that read: "The presence of bookstores proves that
people are still thinking." The sign is gone now, perhaps removed for the
subtle critique it posed to those who seldom visit.
What
was intended to celebrate intellectual engagement might have highlighted an
uncomfortable truth: it shows the fine line between inspiring people and making
those who prefer other activities feel left out.
Currently,
there is a significant challenge with reading among learners. Many struggle to
progress to comprehension, hindering cognitive development. Also, parental
encouragement of a love for reading is lacking, resulting in a diminished
capacity for deeper intellectual engagement in children.
Adults
are often captivated by the immediate entertainment offered by social media,
frequently bypassing posts that promote deep thinking.
Social
media provides immediate rewards such as likes, comments, and shares. This
instant feedback is highly stimulating and reinforces continued use. A study by
Alter (2017) discusses how digital platforms are designed to exploit our desire
for instant gratification and dopamine-driven rewards, making them more
appealing than the delayed gratification of reading a book.
The
preference for social media over traditional reading among adults is driven by
factors such as instant gratification, decreased attention spans, convenience,
social connectivity, visual stimulation, perceived relevance, and lower cognitive
effort.
Preferring
low-effort activities often means engaging in tasks that do not challenge the
brain or stimulate critical thinking. This can lead to decreased cognitive
engagement and lower mental stimulation.
Over
time, this can result in diminished cognitive skills such as problem-solving,
critical thinking, and memory retention. A study by K. A. Erickson and colleagues
(2010) found that mental stimulation and challenging cognitive activities are
essential for maintaining cognitive health.
A
study published in The New England Journal of Medicine (2019) by Stern et al.
found that individuals who engage in activities that stimulate the brain, such
as reading, problem-solving, and learning, have a lower risk of developing
dementia.
The
study emphasizes that cognitive reserve, built through mental stimulation, can
protect against the onset of dementia.
If
unattended and not given focus, the degeneration of the brain can be terrifying
since you will even forget who you are.
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