Source: Marginal REVOLUTION
Blaming smartphones and TVs for declining cognitive performance across developed nations misses the structural culprit: education systems themselves are deteriorating in how they teach foundational skills. PISA data shows the decline predates mass smartphone adoption and varies by country in ways screen time cannot explain. The divergence points to curriculum changes, teacher training gaps, and shifted pedagogical priorities that privileged other skills over the basics. The distinction matters because it moves the problem from consumer panic into institutional accountability—one that requires rethinking what schools actually teach and measure, not restricting access to devices.