Idiocracy Looms As Study Finds TikTok Rots Youth Minds

The intelligence test was invented 121 years ago.

While IQ scores have historically risen alongside technological advancements, recent years have seen a slowdown—if not a reversal—in intelligence. The rise of smartphones, tablets, and social media may be to blame, and more recently, the phenomenon of the ‘TikTok brain‘ among teenagers suggests peak cognition has arrived.

Jelly Bean Brains 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OJI1SOs0y8

— TikTok’s Hottest (@TikTokFemmes) March 20, 2025

A new report from the Financial Times cites a test used to measure the IQs of 15-year-olds, conducted by the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). This test evaluates students' performance in reading, mathematics, and science literacy. The latest data suggests that IQs peaked in the early 2010s.