Is It A Problem That We Are Reading Less?
In modern society, we have many time commitments that keep us busy, from work or school, to exercise and even simply finding time to spend with those close to you. As such, it is almost to be expected that our hobbies will take a backseat when we dedicate our time to something more essential. Therefore, it is unsurprising that less and less people each year find themselves reaching for a book in their free time, or that many believe they can no longer afford to spend their time reading for pleasure. This is a very understandable viewpoint, so why does it matter that we don’t read as much as we used to?
To understand why this is an issue, it is important to know how widespread the decrease of readers is. In a survey taken in 2024 by Literary Trust, only one in three children aged between 8 and 18 said they enjoyed reading in their free time, and the overall enjoyment figure has declined by 8.8% since last year. This figure is the lowest since the annual survey was first conducted and indicates that reading may become even more unpopular in the future.
Additionally, a survey by Censuswide, also in 2024, revealed 50% of adults do not regularly read, an increase from 42% in 2015. In fact, just under a quarter (24%) of those aged 16 to 24 in the survey claimed they had never been readers.
A third of these respondents reported that lack of time was an issue for them, while 20% cited that social media was a distraction. As the average screen time of a person increases, it becomes less likely that they will commit to reading a book instead of choosing the instant gratification of social media. Furthermore, the growing emphasis on digital literacy and technological skills within education, even from a young age, has sidelined the development of any enthusiasm for traditional reading.
So why is this so problematic? It comes down to the fact that reading, especially in the early years of education, is a great equaliser for society. Those with lower literacy skills are less likely to be able to attain a well-paid job, which in turn makes them more vulnerable to poverty, and more likely to be influenced by crime. While not often an application skill, it is often expected by employers, and key to success within employment. They are also essential in a wide range of subjects in education, so qualifications are increasingly difficult to obtain for those with lower literacy skills. Even within everyday life, literacy skills can ensure a person’s independence, such as when making financial decisions, like applying for mortgages or borrowing money responsibly.
It is clear the decline in reading has already produced a negative effect, as within that same Literacy Trust survey 8-14 years old who claimed not to enjoy reading had a mean standardised reading score 6 points lower than those who did. This is an effect that can impact even basic details of everyday life, such as voting, or accessing health-based information. It is a divide that may leave them disadvantaged throughout their life if not addressed, and stems from the lack of encouragement or motivation to read.
For this reason, it is vital that efforts to increase involvement in reading, (particularly for young children) are sustained, and, if possible, increased. Despite this, improvement can only happen if people make the choice to engage in it. Any person can benefit by reading more in their everyday lives, so even simply picking up a book is a great place to start.
Image:
Free Photo | Side view smiley people at book club
Statistics:
https://paper.co/blog/more-than-just-reading-why-low-literacy-has-a-lasting-impact?hs_amp=true