Why do smartphones have so little memory?

Why would smartphones hurt human memory when we can just remember more things at a higher-level now?

• Answer:

  It doesn't hurt memory as much as it shows how our memory works. Our brains tend to focus on where information is stored rather than what the information is. When you lose your keys, you go through the narrative of what you've been doing in the hopes of triggering the memory of where you left them. With the advent of smartphones and internet access, our brains learn that they can find information through those venues instead of having to keep track of it on its own. I'll bet that as our general ability to retain trivia diminishes, our ability to recall where we left our phones/laptops/tablets may actually increase.