# Debunking the Myth of Gen Z's Declining Intelligence Researchers clarify that IQ stagnation is not a decline in cognitive ability. - **Source:** [20 Minutes](https://www.20minutes.fr) - **Published:** 2026-11-12 - **Topic:** [science](https://brifing.si/c/science) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/773abc26-7aab-4103-813d-780c811dbd0d ## The Intelligence Myth Social media discourse has recently fueled claims that Generation Z possesses lower intelligence than Millennials. Experts dismiss this narrative as a pure invention without scientific foundation. While public debate often relies on anecdotal evidence or misinterpreted data, researchers emphasize that there is no substantial difference in intellectual levels between these two generations. ## Defining Cognitive Ability Psychology defines intelligence as a common factor underlying various cognitive performances, including verbal skills, memory, and visuo-spatial reasoning. Franck Ramus of the CNRS explains that these capabilities are linked. Reliable assessments require a battery of tests across multiple domains rather than relying on single metrics like school grades or PISA rankings. ## The Flynn Effect Context The misconception likely stems from a misunderstanding of the Flynn effect, which observed a steady rise in IQ scores throughout the 20th century. This growth, roughly three points per decade, was driven by improved nutrition, better healthcare, and universal schooling. Researchers note that this upward trend was never destined to continue indefinitely. ## Reaching a Biological Plateau Intelligence growth is now experiencing a global slowdown or stagnation, which researchers describe as reaching a natural ceiling. Just as human height does not increase infinitely, cognitive performance gains have hit physical and environmental limits. In developed nations, health and nutrition improvements have reached near-optimal levels, leaving little room for further advancement. ## Screen Time and Cognition Critics often blame digital habits for perceived cognitive declines, but experts label this a moral panic. Studies suggest that screen time has minimal impact on cognitive functioning. While specific activities like reality television may have negligible effects, digital engagement can sometimes be beneficial, proving that technology is not the primary driver of change. ## Education vs. Intelligence Lower academic performance in schools does not equate to lower cognitive ability. Gen Z students face a curriculum increasingly crowded with new subjects like computing and ecology, which dilutes the focus on traditional fundamentals. This shift in educational priorities explains declining test scores better than any supposed biological regression in human intelligence. ## Systemic Educational Challenges Corentin Gonthier, a professor at the University of Nantes, attributes current academic struggles to chronic underinvestment in education systems. Rather than blaming the students' innate capacity, the focus should remain on structural issues within schools. The narrative of declining intelligence serves as a convenient distraction from these pressing, systemic policy failures. ## Future Research Directions As generative AI emerges as the next subject of moral panic, researchers urge caution regarding its impact on development. Currently, there is no large-scale scientific evidence to suggest AI will alter cognitive trajectories. Future studies must remain objective, avoiding the trap of attributing complex societal shifts to singular, unproven technological causes. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.20minutes.fr/societe/4261719-20261112-gen-z-moins-intelligente-predecesseure-millenials-pure-invention-selon-chercheurs?at_medium=display&at_campaign=149 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._