Digital dementia: what’s behind it

For some years now, the term “digital dementia” has been circulating again and again in expert talks and discussions, the core idea of which is highly controversial.

This is what the term “digital dementia “

Although the words “digital dementia” may sound plausible at first glance, many people are not aware of the exact meaning and associated thesis.

• First of all, the term “digital dementia” is composed of the components digital and dementia. Digital in the context refers to content from the Internet that can be accessed via smartphone and the like.

• Dementia comes from the medical field and describes the clinical picture of forgetfulness of facts and personal information as well as learned courses of action.

• The meaning of the term in its entirety has undergone change over the years.

• Earlier, “digital dementia” described the fear that digitalization will cause cultural assets in the form of books, records, and the like to disappear and thus be lost and forgotten.

• In more recent times, however, “digital dementia” is understood to mean the thesis that through the increased use of digital offerings, computers and calculators, people forget skills and forget knowledge.