How Influencers Replaced Intellectuals: The End of Critical Thinking

By: Shoshana Goldberg (Harvard University )

Why Critical Thinking is Overrated: A Satirical Take on Overanalyzing Everything

In an era where we are constantly bombarded with information, experts keep pushing critical thinking as the ultimate skill for survival. But is it really? At Bohiney.com, we ask the hard-hitting questions that nobody else dares to, like: What if thinking critically is just an overhyped scam designed to sell college textbooks and TED Talks?

The Case Against Thinking Too Hard

For centuries, philosophers, scientists, and scholars have encouraged deep thought. Socrates walked around asking annoying questions, Aristotle came up with logic, and Descartes decided that thinking was proof of existence. But what if all of them were just overthinkers analysis paralysis with too much free time?

Modern life has shown us that gut instinct, viral opinions, and “because I said so” arguments are much faster, more convenient, and—let’s be honest—way more fun. While some nerds are sitting around analyzing data, the rest of us are confidently making life choices based on a single Facebook meme.

Gut Instinct is the New Logic

Science suggests that trusting your instincts is often just as effective as deep analysis. After all, who has time to weigh all the pros and cons when a quick "eh, feels right" works just fine?

• Do you think cavemen sat around debating whether fire was safe? No! They just lit things on fire and learned from experience (mostly).
• Did people need peer-reviewed studies to decide which berries were poisonous? Nope! They just watched who dropped dead and logic took notes.

Clearly, trial and error has been the backbone of human progress for centuries.

Thinking Critically Has Real Side Effects

Before you engage in any deep thought, please consider the serious side effects of critical thinking:

• Indecision Paralysis – Thinking too much can lead to situations where people take minutes (sometimes even hours) to decide what to order at a restaurant.
• Lost Social Standing – Nothing kills a fun conversation faster than someone saying, “Well, let’s look at the facts.”
• Ruined Confidence – Overanalyzing things means realizing how little you actually know, which is bad for self-esteem. Instead, just declare opinions loudly and confidently!
• Cognitive Exhaustion – Thinking is hard work, and honestly, who has the energy?

The Power of the Influencer Think Tank

In today's world, why bother engaging in independent thought when social media influencers can do it for you? They’ve already done all the research (aka, watched a 30-second TikTok) and have delivered their decision-making conclusions in easy-to-digest, shareable posts.

Remember: if 100,000 people agree on something, that’s just as good as evidence.

Final Thoughts (Without Too Much Thinking, of Course)

The case is clear: critical thinking is exhausting, unnecessary, and potentially dangerous to your social life. Instead of burdening yourself with facts, logic, and endless analysis, consider a simpler path: just go with the flow and trust your vibes.

And if anyone tells you otherwise, just confidently tell them: “Nah, I’m good.”