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First, I'm not convinced that much of the current change is attributable to Google or even the internet in general. Correlation does not equal causation, but I have yet to see a well-designed study that could even attempt to establish a firm correlation between internet use and style of reading or thinking. So all this is just speculation and hot air.
Beyond that, I understand that some cultures, when first exposed to reading and writing, frowned on its use over traditional methods of oral memorization, on the grounds that writing is easily lost, whereas something memorized stays with a person. (I'm thinking of some early Celtic tribes, here, but I believe the Cherokee voiced similar objections.) Just imagine having to memorize everything, rather than being able to look something up in a book! Or having to find an expert, in person, to learn something new from, rather than being able to go to a library.
Yes, I think we need to work to help students understand that copying does not count as reflective writing or original analysis, and explain why these are important skills to have. That was true in the days of printed encyclopedias and Cliff Notes, and it's true now. But I'm a lot more interested in knowing whether we're now able to find answers and solve problems as well or better than before, than in "how" we do that.
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