Let’s not sugarcoat this: people seem dumber than ever. Everywhere you turn, it’s like the stupidity is louder, prouder, and breeding faster than common sense. And yeah, sometimes it’s hard not to feel like the only sane person in a world full of fools. But is the world actually getting dumber, or are we just seeing more of the dumb in plain sight?
Let’s call it what it is.
The Stupidity Epidemic
First off, stupidity isn’t new. Humans have always had a knack for bad decisions. The difference now is that we have front-row seats to everyone’s worst takes 24/7. Social media turned idiocy into a spectator sport, and the algorithms turned it into a career path.
Want proof? Look at the people who get the most attention online. They’re not the smartest, they’re the loudest. Platforms reward clickbait, outrage, and hot takes—no matter how dumb they are. The stupider and more outrageous, the more engagement they get. And the cycle repeats.
Convenience Is Killing Critical Thinking
Technology has made life so easy, it’s like we’ve outsourced our brains.
- GPS tells us where to go, so we never learn directions.
- Autocorrect fixes our typos, so we stop caring about grammar.
- Social media tells us what to think, so we stop questioning anything.
It’s no wonder people seem dumber. They don’t have to think anymore. Why bother, when everything’s spoon-fed to you? The problem is, convenience comes at a cost. Critical thinking is like a muscle—stop using it, and it withers away.
The Confidence of the Clueless
And then there’s the Dunning-Kruger effect—the textbook explanation for why stupid people are so damn confident. The less people know, the more they think they know everything. And because they’re clueless, they don’t even realize how clueless they are.
Meanwhile, the smarter people get, the more they realize how much they don’t know. So while the thoughtful folks are quietly analyzing and questioning, the clueless ones are shouting their nonsense from the rooftops. And guess who gets all the attention?
The World Isn’t Getting Dumber—You’re Just Seeing It More
Here’s the thing: stupidity has always been around. It’s just that now, thanks to the internet, it’s out in the open for everyone to see. Back in the day, the village idiot didn’t have a platform. Now they’ve got a Twitter account, a YouTube channel, and a TikTok following.
It’s not that people are necessarily getting dumber—it’s that we’re more connected, and stupidity gets amplified. The problem isn’t just that the dumb are louder; it’s that too many smart people stay quiet.
So, Is It Them—or Is It Me?
If you’re feeling like everyone’s an idiot, it might not just be them. The smarter or more experienced you are, the more glaringly obvious other people’s mistakes look. It’s like walking into a kindergarten class and getting frustrated because the kids can’t do calculus. You’re not wrong—but yelling at them doesn’t help either.
That said, some people aren’t just uninformed; they’re willfully stupid. They double down on bad ideas, ignore facts, and reject anything that challenges their worldview. Those people? They’re not worth your time.
How to Survive the Stupidity
- Control Your Inputs – Stop doomscrolling. If your feed is full of idiots, change it. Unfollow, block, and unsubscribe until you’re surrounded by thoughtful voices.
- Pick Your Battles – Not every dumb opinion needs a response. Save your energy for people who are actually willing to learn.
- Call Out the Bullshit – When you see stupidity causing harm, call it out. Silence doesn’t fix anything, but don’t waste time arguing with people who refuse to listen either.
- Stay Sharp – The world needs more smart, thoughtful people, and that means you. Keep learning, keep questioning, and don’t let the noise drag you down.
Final Thought
The world’s not getting dumber—it’s just louder. The real question isn’t why people seem so stupid; it’s what you’re going to do about it. Me? I’m going to keep calling out the bullshit, speaking the truth, and focusing on what matters. If that means stepping on some toes along the way, so be it.
BTW, Matt and I will discuss this topic in more detail on Episode 18 of the InfoSec to Insanity podcast (LIVE).
We can’t fix stupid, but we sure as hell don’t have to put up with it.
— Evan
@Evan – You make some very good points. But people are also adversely affected by all the poisons in the food, the air, the water, etc., and that is demonstrably affecting their ability to think. The school systems in many countries also foster compliance, not critical thinking, and that too is adversely affecting people’s ability to think. On a separate point, maybe intelligence today is not looking the way it used to (critical academic thinking for example), maybe it is being forced to take new avenues and express in new ways (such as detecting fraud for example).
You make some very good points too! You bring some valid perspective that I hadn’t really considered. Thank you!
True, but is this just an excuse