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Why Gen Z is less intelligent than millennials
04 Feb 2026

A recent study has shown that Generation Z (Gen Z) is the first generation to be less intelligent than its predecessor, the Millennials.

The research indicates that Gen Z's cognitive development is lagging behind due to their reliance on "educational technology" or edtech.

The findings were presented by Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, a neuroscientist and former teacher, before the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

Technology's impact on education
Decline

Dr. Horvath pointed out that despite spending more time in school than their 20th-century counterparts, Gen Z's intelligence levels have dropped significantly.

He attributed this decline to modern education methods that rely heavily on technology.

The neuroscientist also presented data showing a decline in cognitive abilities starting around 2010.

This trend is not confined to the US but extends to at least 80 other countries as well.

Screen time and learning
Learning impact

Horvath expressed concern over the amount of time teenagers spend staring at screens.

He said, "More than half of the time a teenager is awake, half of it is spent staring at a screen."

The neuroscientist emphasized that humans are biologically programmed to learn through face-to-face interactions with peers and teachers, not by flipping through screens for bullet point summaries.

Tech in classrooms
Tech impact

Horvath argued that upgrading technology or using better ways around it to educate the youth will not help since tech itself is a problem.

He said, "If you look at the data, once countries adopt digital technology widely in schools, performance goes down significantly."

The neuroscientist presented a six-decade trend showing that as more tech entered classrooms, learning started to decline.