This issue is extremely important and difficult, and few will take action on it. I am no better than anyone else; I am just sounding the alarm. An article in The New York Times stated that diet and exercise are essential for health and well-being. However, for thousands of years, humanity lived unaware of this connection, which only became widely recognized in 1955 when US President Eisenhower suffered a heart attack at the age of 64.
Eisenhower was a symbol of American strength and vitality, which led doctors to investigate what had happened to such an active individual. The renowned Dr. Paul Dudley White studied the case and raised awareness about heart disease and how to reduce risk. This marked the beginning of recognizing the importance of diet and exercise and their role in mortality.
Modern lifestyles have led people to spend more time in offices and less time engaging in outdoor physical activity. Then came the term “lowfat,” the running craze spread, Jane Fonda’s workout videos became popular, and the world began to view food and exercise in a different light. However, this did not last long, as people once again became absorbed by emails and mobile phones. This reduced the ability to focus on mental tasks, and deep work gradually disappeared from many people’s lives. Attention spans have declined compared to the past. This decline has been further influenced by the rise of artificial intelligence and the widespread use of platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, where frequent use has been associated with reduced critical thinking in some cases.
Brain connectivity and reasoning - the foundation of understanding life and developing moral imagination - have also been affected. This cognitive crisis may seem inevitable, a side effect of unstoppable innovation. But should we really accept this gradual decline in our thinking abilities as a foregone conclusion? We must remember that, in a short period, we have changed the way we think about health. This should motivate us to seek a similarly revolutionary and rapid approach to addressing the decline in our thinking capabilities by taking a stand against “processed content,” just as we did against processed foods. We must avoid mental distractions and pause to realize that using these tools, with all their tempting benefits, does not justify their harms. Governments can support efforts to improve digital nutrition, just as they have previously restricted harmful substances such as alcohol and tobacco, and encourage a return to reading, whether serious or recreational, and reducing constant reliance on phone screens. A recent study showed that assigning difficult tasks to artificial intelligence has led to increased mental fatigue.
We use artificial intelligence not because it always improves job performance, but because it helps us avoid moments of deep concentration. The more we rely on artificial intelligence, the more our cognitive abilities deteriorate. Therefore, the problems are likely to worsen. To avoid disaster, we need a comprehensive effort to defend our minds against the “digital forces” that may undermine our way of thinking. The major problem is that the global economy, represented by the New York Stock Exchange, has become increasingly dependent on the products of the companies this article warns against. There does not seem to be any “governmental force” that can stand up to this formidable challenge as it did with fast-food companies, cigarette companies, and others. The convenience and entertainment offered by fast-paced communication tools and platforms are difficult for most people to resist. Perhaps it is time we make a real decision to work towards changing this reality. Humanity has done it before, and it can do it again. A friend, a former prisoner, said she emerged from her brief experience physically and mentally free after ending her previous “forced” attachment to her mobile phone.
By Ahmad alsarraf
email: [email protected]
email: [email protected]
