A new study conducted at Columbia University found results that could be detrimental for Google, Yahoo and other search engines.

The study concluded that excessive use of Internet search engines may cause memory loss in a person.

Essentially, if a person knows where to find answer to a question, aka a search engine, he/she has a limited ability to recall that knowledge.

Professor Sparrow, lead researcher for the study said, “We are becoming symbiotic with our computer tools, growing into interconnected systems. We have become dependent on them to the same degree we are on all the knowledge we gain from our friends and coworkers. Human memory is adapting to new communications technology.”

This news has the ability to greatly affect our online behavior and how we receive information. Additionally, online marketing through search engines is a large revenue builder for companies like Google.

If users begin finding new ways to learn information, search engines and the companies who market through them will be forced to re-evaluate their advertising options.

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