Earlier this year, in written testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath said that Gen Z may be less cognitively capable than previous generations despite unprecedented access to technology. He noted that Gen Z (ages 14 to 29) is the first generation in modern history to score lower on standardized tests than the one before it – an alarming trend that could have significant consequences.

One of the most immediate concerns is the impact on workforce skills. Abilities such as complex problem-solving, sustained focus and analytical writing appear to be declining. Over time, this could affect leadership and innovation in fields such as technology and scientific research, potentially weakening our global competitiveness.

Horvath also offered potential solutions. These include reducing smartphone use during school hours, reintroducing deep reading and encouraging more offline learning environments, ones that involve community engagement, time for creative pursuits and simply being away from a screen.

Technology itself is not the problem, nor should it be rejected. But it must be used as a tool rather than treated as a solution to everything. Managing that balance is essential not only for today’s youth, but for the future we all share.

I was reminded of this just last week when I took my adult kids to lunch. As we sat on an outdoor patio, I noticed a young family a couple of tables away: a mother, a father and a boy who looked about six years old. Throughout the entire meal, both parents were absorbed in their smartphones. There was no conversation and no interaction with their child. The boy had brought a toy and played by himself the whole time, animated but alone. It was a heartbreaking scene.

Moments like that make it clear that we may need to relearn something simple but essential: how to connect with one another. By putting down our devices more often and engaging with the people around us, we can rediscover curiosity, conversation and community, and perhaps become more than what constant distraction has allowed us to be.