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Photo by Karolina Grabowska: https://www.pexels.com/photo/hands-of-a-woman-holding-a-book-4963850/
In the age of smartphones, tablets, and omnipresent notifications, deep reading—in which we immerse ourselves in a book's lengthy text, become captivated by it, and try to understand its meaning—seems to be imperilled. Even as screens open a universe of knowledge to users, new studies show how they may be sidelining many important cognitive functions that help us process and learn from lengthy, complex texts. Texts here may be affecting our comprehension, focus, and even empathy.
Allure of the Short Scroll
For example, the brain is wired for novelty and reward. Social media platforms and news feeds feed us streams of information in those small bite sizes, so we are always rewarded with those hits of dopamine that get released every time we get a like, share, or comment. This level of arousal in the brain acts as a program that quickly gets used to the short information chunks, hence making it hard for one to focus on books.
In 2020, a study was conducted at the University of California, Berkeley, which demonstrated that the more time participants spent reading online news, the poorer their understanding was compared to others reading from print. The research points out that the speed of online reading and the existence of hyperlinks, in addition to distraction, interfere with the capacity for information retention and the development of critical thinking.
"The capacity to be 'lost in a book' is a skill that is in free fall through disuse and distraction." Maryanne Wolf: neuroscientist; author, "Reader, Come Home"
The Effect on Attention
It turns out that a barrage of constant notifications and information associated with screen time may assault the attention span. In fact, according to a 2015 Microsoft study, our attention spans have decreased to just eight seconds, about the length of a short video. Such an attention span is difficult to apply to sustained thought, which is crucial for deep reading. It results in skimming and lower comprehension.
An Empathy Deficit
Deep reading enables the reader to take on several characters and viewpoints, thus fostering empathy. This is another key attribute of social and emotional development—the effect of the written word. A study in Computers in Human Behavior of 2019, however, proved that people relying on digital media have lower empathy. The research implies that the fast pace of online communication can limit the development of those cognitive processes that result in understanding and reacting to other people's emotions.
Power of Print: Call for Balance
Yet deep reading has its advantages, notwithstanding the disadvantages of screen time. Deep reading has been found to benefit cognitive functioning, memory, and critical thinking, as well as an expanded vocabulary, less stress, and better emotional health.
The idea is to balance screen time with time spent glued to full-concentration reading. The point is to create a love for deep reading in your child.
● Schedule "Deep Reading" Time: Give yourself dedicated time blocks per day or week where there are zero distractions, and it's all about reading.
● Print It Out: Keep the physical books to involve them as part of your everyday habit. Seeing the book in your hands and flipping through its pages might arouse more sensations that come in handy for concentration and enjoyment.
● Lead by Example: let your children see that you are reading regularly.
● Curate Your Digital Landscape: Switch off notifications while reading on digital devices so as not to get distracted unnecessarily.
● Audiobooks: Most individuals are hard-pressed with time to read, so audiobooks come in handy. They can be listened to while driving, exercising, or even doing housework.
A Future of Coexistence
True, the screens themselves are not bad and provide the world with volumes of information and entertainment. It's just that one has to be very aware of what their use does to reading habits. We can ensure the power of the written word continues to enrich our lives in the digital age by intention to do deep reading and kindling a love for the printed text in a child's heart.
Data Speaks louder
● The reading rate in the United States was reported as 27%, according to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Centre in 2021.
● As described in a 2019 Journal of Educational Psychology article, students who read from screens scored lower on reading comprehension test scores than those who read from print.
● The University of Chicago established in 2013 that literary fiction readers' cognitive activity can enhance their capacity for empathy and emotional responsiveness toward others.
Final Note
"Deep reading is a form of exercise for the brain. It allows us to process information in a more nuanced way." - Nicholas Carr, author of "The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains"
Deep reading is a gift we give ourselves in an age of never-ending distractions. It is like a gateway to new worlds, a source of knowledge and empathy, a window to a vivid, brilliant world, and a powerful tool for critical thinking. It is about ensuring that the written word continues to mould our brains, define our lives, and allow us to negotiate our way through the complexity of the digital age by making a place for slow reading within our lives and creating a culture of literacy in our communities.
But remember, the future of reading is not a zero-sum game between screens and paper. It is about finding the right balance, the one which respects our tendencies to take full advantage of convenience while respecting some irreplaceable experiences in deep reading. Let us move on together in our quests across the two worlds—one physical, the other digital—both with the written word at the foundation of our development intellectually and emotionally.
