In January 2026, neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. His message was clear: “Our kids are less cognitively capable than we were at their age.”

What the data actually says is that measured skills like reading comprehension, math performance, sustained attention, and writing quality may be slipping or not improving. It also suggests that a heavy, poorly controlled digital environment can make it harder to learn and retain what the school is trying to teach.

https://www.wearethemighty.com/feature/gen-z-intelligence-study/

It’s not like there’s no cause for concern, but it seems like it’s mostly just that we need to limit screen time a little.