I still think kids are an investment in our economic future. If the future isn't educated they can't improve society like every generation has managed to do. You give your children an education and you expect some sort of return on that down payment of sorts. But thankfully a good investment isn't a docile and obedient generation anymore.  

Doesn't someone need to do it? Or is technology advanced enough to do it without us? If not how are we supposed to get people to work in factories, because I don't want to and I don't know who would 

And now that television is becoming increasingly less popular we're probably much less culturally coordinated. Also the internet allows a lot of room for cultivating special interests 

The point of trivia is that it's trivial, right? I would say that not bothering to remember is an improvement. Who cares what the capital of some obscure country is if you can look it up? Now we save room for the important things. 

 Maybe it's because we're more trained for tests now. Taking tests is definitely a skill in itself, and now that we take them more often, we're getting better at it?

I hope somebody is attempts to scientifically prove that we're legitimately addicted to technology. It might open up some useful things for people who have a serious problem. In South Korea somewhere I know they have a rehabilitation program for video games.