Plain English BEST OF: The Modern World Is Changing America’s Personality for the Worse

America's personality shift in the last decade is explored, highlighting a decline in conscientiousness, agreeableness, and extroversion, coupled with rising neuroticism, especially among young adults. The discussion probes into whether declining education assessment scores are connected with the fall in conscientiousness. Ubiquitous mobile internet, smartphones, and digital distractions are considered as factors impacting our capacity and deployment of intelligence. The conversation touches on the wellness industry's focus on the self and the potential conscientiousness polarization due to AI. John Burn-Murdoch and Derek Thompson consider the role of housing costs in English-speaking countries as a significant factor related to anxiety and well-being.