The Digital Delusion: How Classroom Technology Harms Our Kids' Learning--and How to Help Them Thrive Again

by Jared Cooney Horvath PhD Med., Jared Cooney Horvath PhD MEd

Educator and neuroscientist Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath reveals why digital tools in school consistently undermine learning—and what parents, teachers, and schools can do to push back with purpose.

Our children are struggling. Schools, once alive with deep learning born of human connection, are now dominated by screens and digital tools. The result is falling performance, fractured attention, and the slow erosion of rigorous thought. For the first time in the history of standardized cognitive measurement, children are consistently scoring lower on key measures of cognitive development.

We were told that classroom technology was progress. It wasn’t. In The Digital Delusion, neuroscientist and educator Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath shows how the widespread use of laptops, tablets, and educational software in classrooms is undermining how children learn, think, and develop. Drawing on decades of neuroscience and education research, Horvath dismantles the core myths driving the EdTech movement, and offers a practical playbook for putting people—not programs—back at the center of education.

This is not a call to reject technology.

Now, more than ever, we need a generation capable of deep thought and understanding. This book is an urgent call to reclaim real learning and restore an education that builds strong, motivated thinkers.

Genres: Nonfiction

367 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 6, 2025

Reviews

[Cristi Julsrud · Rating 3 out of 5]

I try to remain aware of specious arguments that I agree with just because they say what I want to hear. Did I agree with this book? Yes. Did I also think the arguments somewhat specious? Also yes. I am exhausted by alarmist reading, and this was quite alarmist in places. I do think the education system swallowed the edtech promise hook, line, and sinker without any caution, and I do believe that edtech is making education worse, not better. That said, a lot of the points felt repetitive. Reminds me of reading books that started out as an article in The Atlantic or something and had to be stretched out into a full-length book but there just wasn't enough to say.
I would love for Michael and Peter to take this one on in If Books Could Kill 😁

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Digital Delusion is a thought-provoking look at the growing body of research on educational technology, smartphones, AI, and how screens are changing the way students learn. As a veteran high school English teacher, I found myself nodding along throughout much of the book. It validated what I've witnessed anecdotally for years: students' reading comprehension, handwriting, note-taking, test performance, and memory all seem to be declining as technology becomes increasingly embedded in education.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its reliance on research rather than isolated anecdotes. The author examines well-known studies, discusses concepts like meta-analyses and effect sizes, and makes a compelling case that relationships—not technology—remain the foundation of meaningful learning. I especially appreciated his reminder that computers will never replace great teachers.

I did have a few criticisms. At times, the author overexplains terminology that many college-educated readers will already know. Defining a newer term like phubbing makes perfect sense, but I didn't think concepts like meta-analysis or effect size needed such lengthy explanations.

I also disagreed with his stance on teachers using AI. While I understand his point that AI should be used cautiously and primarily by professionals with expertise, I found it surprising that he discourages teachers from using it for instructional planning or assessment. Most educators I know are more than capable of critically evaluating AI-generated materials before ever putting them in front of students.

Perhaps my biggest takeaway is that the book argues for an ideal version of education—one that I largely agree with. But as classroom teachers, we're constantly balancing what's best for students with what's actually sustainable. Yes, short-answer assessments may produce deeper learning than multiple-choice tests, but they also take exponentially longer to grade. Sometimes the ideal simply isn't feasible within the realities of today's classrooms.

I also appreciated the abundance of checklists, practical resources, and references throughout the book. Whether or not I agreed with every recommendation, it gave me plenty to think about, and I suspect I'll continue reflecting on its arguments long after finishing it.

This book was provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it in one sitting

This book gave me the evidence I had been lacking about my suspicion around screens in schools, especially the use of AI. I need to digest this and think more but it was a fantastic read... even I'd I did it on my Kindle, which is a screen...

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read for anyone with a stake in education. If you were moved by The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, you need to read The Digital Delusion. It is the most compelling argument I've seen for a more analog education. It's organized, it's articulate, it's well-researched - and I could not put it down. I wanted to highlight pretty much every sentence; it's that good and that important. Jared Cooney Horvath makes the research easy to understand (though difficult to swallow) when he thoroughly dismantles the myths about why educational technology is good for kids.

Of course it makes sense that when schools did online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, students would need devices for school - but now that we're back in person, it's time to re-evaluate why everything has to be on a screen. Is it convenient for teachers? You might save time on making copies, but it takes a lot of time to be the device police. Is it good for kids? The data suggest it's not. Is it at least chaper? I thought that doing schoolwork online was cheaper than making copies if the kids already have their devices - until I saw one statistic in this book that *maintaining* tech was costing one group $1 million per year! The rise of AI-powered cheating is just another reason to return to paper-based activities. And a LOT of my colleagues feel the same desire to move back to screen-free education, but when your district has spent millions on devices and slashed your copy budget, we can't make decisions just based on feelings - so Cooney Horvath has given us the irrefutable facts. There are so many specific, actionable resources for parents, teachers, and school leaders in this book, in addition to the wealth of data.

The author is not some kind of irrational extremist; he acknowledges that some students with IEPs or 504s need technological assistance, and he recognizes the difficulty in moving away from established Ed Tech. But looking at the data in this book, we NEED extreme change in education. Maybe the author's tone is harsh at times, but it needs to be.

I wasn't totally sold on offline learning and bell-to-bell phone bans before I read this book, but I am now. It's going to be difficult to make the change, but our kids are worth it.

Please don't listen to the tech billionaires who want to make money off our children; listen to this educator and neuroscientist who actually cares about our kids' wellbeing and learning.

Thank you to Convergent and Harmony for the free eARC. I post this review with my honest opinions.

[Lisa Hecox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book if you are concerned about tech in the classroom.

[Kireja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading for parents, everyone in education, Boards of Ed, etc. Because EdTech isn’t as bad as you think—it’s much worse. If you care about learning, read this book.