When we think of evolution, our minds tend to spring to the Darwinian theories of ‘survival of the fittest’, or the transition from Neanderthals to Homo sapiens. Yet, technological advancements have provided us with a much more subtle mode of evolution: media. In the 21st century, ‘new media’ operates as a cultural feedback loop, taking what we give it and feeding it back to us tenfold. Media influences our brains, and, subsequently, our mental state. Admittedly, it can be quite hard to notice, especially since (for many of us) we have lived our whole lives with different forms of ‘new media’.
The difference between biological and technological evolution is in its speed. Think of the growing presence of AI in the personal and professional spheres, and how its development is measured. The jump from Siri to ChatGPT, in human terms, would take millions of years. Today, progress comes in weeks and months. Each media development increasingly impacts how we think, and how we spend our days. From the beginning of the 20th century up to 2026, we have seen an acceleration of evolution: silent film to colour film, short-film to television, televised advertisements, skippable advertisements, streaming services, and now AI. Each advancement has affected how people spend their time and what they depend on. As we increasingly seem to rely upon this technology, it raises the question of whether we are hindering our ability to engage in deep thought.
At its creation, each stage was considered novel — a life-changing device. Yet, the jump into the 21st century makes it obvious how our lives have been permanently changed. Think of the iPhone. The close-up screen is a game-changer, providing bright lights, global communication, and unprecedented amounts of information. It is not a struggle to see why this is addictive. This is because we find pleasure in such a rapid solution to our problems, and such quick answers to our questions. In a few clicks, we are presented with dozens of responses to the most vague of prompts. Yet, due to the rapid increase in the media’s global presence, we have not yet evolved to cope with receiving all the information that it provides. We simply do not have the capacity for what we are bombarded with, and this can have a range of negative outcomes: unhappiness, anxiety, and stress, to name but a few.
While this was developed for the purpose of communication and entertainment, it has, to an extent, overachieved this. ‘New media’ — social media, in particular — has become so efficient to the point that it gives us access to what millions of people choose to share; usually being the most positive aspects of their lives, while hiding the rest. As a consequence, social media has reinforced pre-existing insecurities within its own communities. Culture has always expressed itself in society to enforce social norms. However, social media magnifies this by showing it to us to an absurd degree. It is overwhelming, and we cannot cope anymore. Having access to this from a young age prevents people from growing and learning to appreciate themselves, away from the boundaries of society. Our modern society aims to distance itself from the restrictions of the past, but that is laid to waste if social media, once again, informs us of the so-called ‘ideal’ way of living. We have devolved from thinking about ourselves in our own right, and evolved into being dependent on what we are shown.
Similarly, instant communication has led to a decrease in attention span and impatience, as — endlessly on edge — we await a response within minutes, if not seconds. This diverts us away from organic relationships, as, constantly in contact, we lose the freedom to take the time to be mindfully ourselves, alone. Meanwhile, we take away the opportunity for others to do the same. Previously, we respected people’s time, and acknowledged they had lives away from their relationship with us. Today, a life without a phone seems unbelievable. This is perpetuated by the fact that living without 21st century devices is near impossible. They are necessary for communication, work, payment, and every other essential part of our lives. We have been forced into this binding system, in which the benefits of technology are intertwined with the harms in an unavoidable way.
Our phones have become the primary asset of our society. Google, Safari, Bing, Quora, Reddit — these hold the answers to any possible question. ‘How much is a train from Oxford to London?’ ‘What are the best kebab vans near me?’ ‘Which bar has the cheapest shots?’ These are mixed with pop-ups, search-bar recommendations, and ads, often based on something overheard in a private conversation. Anything. There is absolutely no limit, and this means there is no limit to how far our minds can devolve.
These devices were made to save us time, to make life easier and more enjoyable, and yet, any time saved is wasted. Reels and TikToks occupy time saved by ChatGPT; so much so that when this ‘wasted time’ is interrupted by the ‘Are you a robot?’ tests or a 30-second YouTube ad, we panic. We have devolved into such impatience that we cannot even stand to think for ourselves for a minute. It has become our best friend, and everywhere we look, there is some form of ‘new media’ present. It is an intrinsic part of life, and soon no one will know life without it. Let’s admit it, we critique Gen Alpha, but we are ourselves a generation of ‘iPad kids’.
‘New media’ has continuously evolved for decades, and people’s dependence has evolved with it. Without doubt, the rise of AI makes clear that this is something that will never truly go away. ‘New media’ is everywhere, so looking back on ‘old media’ (books, letters, etc.) can make us realise just how little we think for ourselves. Books do not tell us the answer to the exact questions we propose, but it must be sought out. Nor would we expect an instant response to a letter. ‘Old media’ makes us think about what we are asking, to think deeply about the efficiency of our search, and to think of and encourage independence within our relationships. These are things that we only really notice once we step back and reflect, which is exactly what we should aim to do. Only then can we get back to thinking for ourselves, once again.