Gen Z: The first generation not smarter than their parents

[mystery-ak]

Gen Z: The first generation not smarter than their parents

For more than a century, each generation reliably tested smarter than the one before it. No longer.

Monty L. Donohew | June 22, 2026

For more than a century, each generation reliably tested smarter than the one before it.  This was the Flynn Effect — the steady rise in I.Q. scores of roughly three points per decade, driven by better nutrition, education, and public health, and a more complex environment.

That long upward march appears to have ended with Gen Z.  We are now witnessing the first modern generation that is not outperforming its parents on key measures of cognitive ability.

Large-scale international assessments tell the story.  PISA, TIMSS, and other standardized tests show clear declines or stalls in literacy, numeracy, problem-solving, and executive function among Gen Z cohorts (born roughly 1997–2012) compared to Millennials.

Neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, testifying before Congress, highlighted data showing measurable drops in attention span, working memory, and deep reasoning skills that began accelerating around 2010–2015, the exact period when smartphones and constant screen exposure became ubiquitous in schools and homes.

This a historic break in the pattern that defined modern progress.  Previous generations stood on the shoulders of those who came before them.  Gen Z is the first in a long time to step backward.

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https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2026/06/gen_z_the_first_generation_not_smarter_than_their_parents.html

[mountaineer]

If only they had less screen time and more time with books.

[Wingnut]

Their parents weren't all that sharp either.

[libertybele]

If only they had less screen time and more time with books.

Agree. It still saddens me that kids are not being taught cursive and instead of teaching kids how to do math problems they are allowed to use calculators.   Kids are not being taught even the basics. 

[mountaineer]

They're not reading. How will they learn if they don't read? I'm trying to track down the source of something I read just the other day about how even at the vaunted Harvard, college students are not required to read entire works now, just excerpts. It's basically a Cliff Notes education, except even less in-depth than that.

K-12 children are not reading, either. This AP news article from last month describes a "reading recession" and low test scores. Here's a related article: Your Kids Aren't Learning: Reading Is No Longer Required in School.

I go to the public library two or three times a week, and it does my little heart good to see parents there with their children, checking out a stack of books. It's all too rare, however.

[mountaineer]

This essay lists over 400 books in the western canon, separated by age group. It's meant for all of you who want the best for your child's education and for your own as well: https://educatedandfree.substack.com/p/a-library-to-build-great-americans?r=b8lae

[Bigun]

They're not reading. How will they learn if they don't read? I'm trying to track down the source of something I read just the other day about how even at the vaunted Harvard, college students are not required to read entire works now, just excerpts. It's basically a Cliff Notes education, except even less in-depth than that.

K-12 children are not reading, either. This AP news article from last month describes a "reading recession" and low test scores. Here's a related article: Your Kids Aren't Learning: Reading Is No Longer Required in School.

I go to the public library two or three times a week, and it does my little heart good to see parents there with their children, checking out a stack of books. It's all too rare, however.

John Dewey and his minions have done their work well unfortunately.

[Free Vulcan]

The real problem is that they think they are smarter, but don't realize just how much they don't know.

[Polly Ticks]

I go to the public library two or three times a week, and it does my little heart good to see parents there with their children, checking out a stack of books. It's all too rare, however.

If you'll allow me a brief grandmother moment, please. I'm so very proud of my granddaughter. She is in the 1st grade, and she is reading at the 4th grade level per her latest test scores. Reading is one of her favorite things to do, and it shows. Granddaughter #2 is following right along behind her ... she is only 18 months old but regularly brings me books and asks me to read them to her. Full credit and props to my daughter-in-law and son for fostering that into their children. I'm super proud of both of them, too.

[mountaineer]

Good to hear, @Polly Ticks ! Children who are read to tend to develop a love for reading themselves - and they are the ones who will be better educated than their peers.

[Bigun]

If you'll allow me a brief grandmother moment, please. I'm so very proud of my granddaughter. She is in the 1st grade, and she is reading at the 4th grade level per her latest test scores. Reading is one of her favorite things to do, and it shows. Granddaughter #2 is following right along behind her ... she is only 18 months old but regularly brings me books and asks me to read them to her. Full credit and props to my daughter-in-law and son for fostering that into their children. I'm super proud of both of them, too.

Fantastic! Encourage her and keep her supplied with good reading material!