For The Exclusive,
Maria George
At one point of time, it wasn't unusual to lose oneself within the pages of a book. People would stay for hours, completely immersed within the universe created by an author's words. These days, however, reading culture is vanishing at breakneck speed. Bookshelves collect dust, and deep reading—the ability to focus and get lost in long text—is being undermined by bite-sized social media posts, bottomless scrolling and digital distraction. The question is, are we choosing not to read, or is current technology rewiring our brains to make it all but impossible?
Reading is not only knowledge or entertainment—it reprograms our minds. Through research, it has been shown that reading works of literary fiction, amongst others, increases empathy, critical thinking, and cognitive flexibility. Compared to passive forms of media consumption, like viewing videos, reading requires an active brain. It forces the brain to envision, analyze, and interpret things rather than be presented with them.
For med students especially , deep reading is more important than ever. It improves concentration, assists memory, and develops the ability to consume challenging information—skills future doctors so desperately require. Beyond the classroom, reading is a font of creativity and emotional intelligence and is thus invaluable to personal growth. And yet, despite all these benefits, more people are not sitting down to immerse themselves in lengthy, unbroken reading.
So why are fewer people reading? This one can be so easily answered that the internet has reduced our attention span significantly. Social media apps are made to give instant gratification with instant dopamine making one unable to sit through something for longer than a few minutes. With reminders, reels, and TikToks everywhere, it is hard to sit down with a book when one can find entertainment in half the time.
Platforms like YouTube, Netflix, and Instagram have made visual storytelling the in-thing for popular consumption. Why read a book when you can watch its film adaptation in two hours? Audiobooks and podcasts are also trending, where you can listen to the stories without the effort of being involved in the act of reading.
Even in universities, students are typically overwhelmed with books and academic papers. Following hours of intense, technical reading, most individuals would prefer to unwind by doing less demanding activities like social media or TV dramas. This is a vicious cycle that generates an unhealthy relationship where the act of reading is seen as work and not recreation.
Originally, libraries were the focal point of intellectual exploration, but now they are rapidly becoming an afterthought. Since everything can be accessed on the internet, people no longer have to visit real libraries, and the sensation of reading as a shared cultural experience has dissipated.
Decreasing reading is not inevitable, but it does have to be done with an effort. Here's how we can bring in-depth reading back:
• Digital Detox: Having a daily tech-free reading time can rewire attention spans.
• Book Clubs and Reading Challenges: Social interaction can motivate people to read more.
• Making Reading Accessible: Promoting free e-books and library membership can motivate people to pick up a book.
• Redefining Reading as Relaxation: People need to unlearn associating reading with work and learn it as self-care and a mental escape.
Finally, reading is not just a hobby—it's a habit that determines how we see the world. If we continue to replace books with fleeting online content, we'll forget how to think critically, sympathize with people, and concentrate too. The question is, will we realize this before it's too late?
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