From Pages to Pixels: The Silent Crisis of Declining Literacy in the Digital Age

In an era where knowledge can be acquired in just a few clicks and scrolls, and where every word is emitted through a bright, flashing screen, there is no denying that the demand for traditional reading has been declining. The 21st-century era has been characterized by rapid technological advancements, increasing globalization, and the pervasive integration of digital devices with the increased demands on smartphones, the gradual modality shifting of learning, and the progressive use of artificial intelligence (AI) in our daily tasks. Albeit, this progress is making a staggering impact on our lives in terms of convenience, it also raises an increasing paradox: humans are getting more efficient by making us inefficient. How did we go from carving hieroglyphs to lazily typing words on a screen? Should this groundbreaking progress be worth celebrating? Or is it something we should worry about for the future generations? This editorial will address literacy and its implication on developing modern civilizations.

The Rise of the Digital Age

The rise of the digital age did not happen overnight, for the past decades, its slow and gradual integration into the learning system has been evident and inevitable. It reshapes how students read, write, and acquire information. Our generation went from reading books, and various research on a paper to a few clicks away from diving into the encyclopedia archives— from pages to pixels. This has been observed and studied by researchers to identify the correlation between our comprehension and retaining information when we read on different mediums. Research conducted by Baron, Calixte, and Havewala (2017) revealed that the results from students are essentially comparable when being assessed by basic comprehension and memory tests, particularly for continuous texts like prose. However, differential results arise under specific conditions: for instance, less time reading digitally can lower comprehension. Moreover, multitasking while reading digitally can accumulate a longer reading time and are more exposed to potential distractions in comparison to reading printed stationary texts.

READ MORE: Reading in a Digital Age

This has been the reality for most cases, our generation has been yielding readers with lower attention spans due to extrinsic factors while reading on a smartphone. Considering its flexible and extensive use, with every app's notifications, and messages, our brains have become wired and conditioned to entertain every pop-up and abandon certain tasks— in this case, reading— for a temporary surge of excitement that triggers the release of dopamine that makes us compulsively check for our smartphones. This also becomes a concerning factor in diminishing concentration among students and adults which can impede their daily tasks. Additionally, this creates a social pressure that forces us to constantly keep up and respond immediately since our brain recognizes every notification as an “urgent” matter that has to be addressed immediately.

Reading for Pleasure is Declining

Back when digital technology was nonexistent, reading has become one of the most popular sources of leisure— when people consume physical books and enjoy the distinguishable odor of ink and paper while sipping their morning tea and coffee. It is also the point in time of in-depth reading that characterizes intense focus and concentration. Regardless of genre, it is undeniable that books, in general, inhibit pleasure and stimulate creativity and imagination. However, this reading culture is at risk of being lost in time.  A survey conducted by the National Literacy Trust early in 2023 revealed that fewer than one-third of children (in the UK) aged eight to 18 read for pleasure daily. While this percentage remains unchanged for 2022, it stood at 38% when the survey began in 2005, representing a 26% decrease in those who read regularly. 

Read More: Survey reveals marked decline in reading for pleasure in 2023

Part of the problem is not necessarily attributed to the shifting of reading modality but also to the continuous price hike of books, particularly physical books. An article from BookRiot published in 2018 reveals a decrease in book-paper availability which directly affects the pricing point of books to accommodate it. Additionally, due to manufacturing, and shipping, the tricky math for price points tends to complicate things dramatically, especially for international releases depending on the type of books you are purchasing (hardcovers, or paperbacks) This further contributes to the decrease of pleasure reading due to the socio-economic factor of the reader. Considering that books are becoming expensive, it poses a problem with its accessibility among casual readers— who now tend to rely on PDF or free e-book sites online which going back to the first problem: becomes a hindrance to being fully immersed in the reading experience. 

How Reading Modality Changes the Brain Structure

Albeit reading have become easily accessible through the internet and smartphones, there is a widespread debate being fueled regarding the beneficial and detrimental effects of this transition to our brain structure. According to Dr. Suzuki during the Annual Neuroscience Conference in New York (2024), the overuse of smartphones changes our brain chemistry due to constant exposure to digital contents "Our brains are not designed to deal with the powerful, continual inputs that smartphones give. The constant barrage of notifications, social media, and other digital stuff overstimulates the brain, resulting in a kind of 'frying' effect where our cognitive processes and emotional well-being are damaged." 

READ MORE: Smartphones ‘Fry’ Your Brain, Increased Screen Time Ruins Lives, Claims Eminent Neuroscientist

Moreover, further research led by John Hutton, MD, MS, and his colleagues reveals a staggering result. The nature of the study involved MRI scans of 52 healthy children aged 3 to 5, analyzing how variations in screen time correlated with differences in brain development. The two MRI structural measures were sulcal depth (SD), which gauges the depth of "canyons" between brain folds, and cortical thickness (CT), which gauges the thickness of the brain's "gray matter" surface. Both are recognized indicators of brain development that are connected to variations in a variety of skills. This study reveals that higher exposure to media use is associated with lower cortical thickness and low sulcal depth which are responsible for language development, reading skills, and social skills. 

READ MORE: Screen Usage Linked to Differences in Brain Structure in Young Children

Addressing the Problem

This has been a growing concern in our generation, humans have the innate tendency to value intellectualism and continue to seek knowledge throughout their lifetime. To feel connected with the world, and find meaning throughout their lives while experiencing living. And this value is sort of becoming obsolete due to the convenience the digital era brings. Humans have become lazier which poses a threat to the productivity of humans in different fields of study due to declining literacy as the byproduct of transitioning of reading modality. This crisis might eventually affect our welfare and employment considering many job descriptions, crafting specific documents, and work responsibilities require a certain degree of reading and comprehension skills. Additionally, various fields of work require a certain degree of qualifications (e.g., medical field) which can ultimately affect public health if competent workers continue to decrease dramatically. 

Although research and findings still have their limitations in identifying the implications this brings, our mind has the capacity to adapt to the environment to form new habits and acquire skills (neuroplasticity) it is still important to highlight the current scientific knowledge we acquire for the future directions and lines of inquiry for future learners.