Google responsible for "digital amnesia", says study

Our modern dependence on search engines such as Google is fostering “digital amnesia”, suggests a new study by Kaspersky Lab.

Relying on online instruments to store important information is leading to digital-dependency, says the study, which found that 91% of Americans surveyed admitted that they use the internet as a universal reference book.

Likewise, 79.5% of European respondents admitted using the internet as an extension of the brain.

Globally, 51% of American and 40% of European respondents admitted that the loss or compromise of data stored on digital devices would cause “immense distress”.

The survey found that a majority of women and young people would suffer if disconnected from their digital items, highlighting the growing dependence on technology.

Over 25% of women surveyed in America and Europe said they would “panic” if they lost their devices, as they’re the only place they store photos messages and contact information.