Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University have found that the internet can help people come up with more ideas when they are brainstorming alone. However, when people work together in groups using the internet, the variety of ideas actually goes down.
The study looked at how people use the internet to search for information and get inspired while brainstorming. When individuals used the internet by themselves, they were able to find more information quickly and think of more ideas than those who did not use the internet. This means that the internet is a useful tool for people who are working alone and want to be more creative.
But the results were different for groups. When groups brainstormed together online, they tended to come up with similar ideas instead of a wide range of different ones. The researchers believe this happens because people in groups often see the same information online and start to think in the same way. As a result, the group’s ideas become less original and less varied.
The researchers say that while the internet is a powerful tool for finding information and sparking creativity, it can also make people think alike, especially in group settings. They suggest that groups should try different ways of brainstorming, such as working alone first and then sharing ideas, to keep their ideas fresh and creative.
In summary, the internet can help individuals be more creative, but it may limit the variety of ideas in group brainstorming. It is important to find the right balance when using the internet for creative work.