For much of the 20th century, intelligence test scores had followed a clear pattern. Each generation outperformed the one before it. That steady rise, known as the Flynn Effect, shaped assumptions about education, progress, and cognitive growth. Now, researchers say the pattern may be shifting.
Recent studies conducted in parts of Europe and North America suggest that average IQ scores have plateaued or declined in certain age groups. The findings are not universal, and scholars caution against sweeping conclusions. Still, the data has fueled debate over Generation Z scoring lower than Millennials on traditional intelligence measures.
Generation Z comprises people born between 1997 and 2012. They are the first cohort to grow up fully immersed in digital technology. Smartphones, social media, and streaming platforms have been part of their daily lives since early childhood. Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, experienced the internet and digital technology during adolescence and adulthood. Many spent their early years in classrooms and households less dominated by screens.
According to researchers, younger participants have shown a modest decline in areas testing sustained attention, reading comprehension, and abstract reasoning. Those categories form the core of many IQ assessments. Analysts emphasize that the differences are gradual rather than dramatic and vary by country.
Some experts attribute the changes in daily habits to the seeming decline in IQ scores. Teenagers now spend a significant portion of their time online, shifting their attention between apps and tasks. This habit, alongside the constant exposure to short-form videos and notifications, has drastically reduced people’s attention spans. Reading books, once a common pastime, has become less frequent among adolescents, according to several education surveys.
Lifestyle pressures also play a role. Reports show rising levels of stress, anxiety, and sleep deprivation among young people. Cognitive performance can be affected by fatigue and mental strain.
“We have to consider the broader environment in which these tests are taken,” said one education researcher who studies adolescent development. “Scores do not exist in isolation.”
At the same time, many psychologists argue that IQ tests measure a limited range of abilities. Digital literacy, visual processing speed, and collaborative problem solving are skills that traditional exams cannot fully capture. Employers and universities increasingly value adaptability and technical fluency, traits often associated with the later generations.
The debate remains unsettled. Some scholars view the data as an early warning about future generations’ education and attention spans. Others see it as evidence that intelligence is evolving and adapting to new demands. What appears to be a decline on paper may reflect a shift in how young people think and learn.
As research continues, experts agree on one point: a single test score cannot define a generation.
Sean Jung R&D Division Director teen/1773020990/1613367592
1. What pattern did the Flynn Effect historically show?
2. Which generation shows possible IQ score decline?
3. Which cognitive skills showed slight decline?
4. Why do experts question traditional IQ tests?
1. Do digital habits influence your concentration levels?
2. How often do you engage in deep reading?
3. Do you think technology changes thinking skills?
4. What abilities should define intelligence today?
For much of the 20th century, intelligence test scores had followed a clear pattern. Each generation outperformed the one before it. That steady rise, known as the Flynn Effect, shaped assumptions about education, progress, and cognitive growth. Now, researchers say the pattern may be shifting.
Lifestyle pressures also play a role. Reports show rising levels of stress, anxiety, and sleep deprivation among young people. Cognitive performance can be affected by fatigue and mental strain.
