Are We Losing the Habit of Reading? How Short-Form Content Is Changing Our Attention Span
Books are still available everywhere, from traditional bookstores and libraries to e-readers and mobile apps. Yet, a growing question deserves attention: Are we slowly losing the habit of reading? In a world dominated by Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and bite-sized information, spending an hour with a book can feel surprisingly difficult. While digital content makes information easier to access, it also raises questions about our patience, concentration and willingness to engage with something that takes time to understand.
There is nothing inherently wrong with these formats. They are convenient, engaging and often useful. However, their growing popularity has created more competition for activities that require sustained attention, including reading.
Reading demands active participation. You have to follow the words, understand the context, imagine the scenes and connect ideas. Unlike a video that delivers information through visuals and sound, a book asks you to build much of the experience in your mind.
That effort can feel demanding when an endless stream of entertaining content is available at the tap of a screen.
Over time, this pattern raises questions about how comfortable we are with activities that require patience.
A 2025 analysis published in Psychological Bulletin examined 71 studies involving more than 98,000 participants. The findings linked greater short-form video use with poorer cognitive performance, particularly in attention and inhibitory control, which refers to the ability to resist distractions and control impulses.
However, these findings do not establish that short videos directly cause attention problems. The relationship may work in different ways, and other factors could influence the results. More research is needed to understand the long-term effects of these viewing habits.
Still, the findings offer a reason to think about how frequently we switch between different sources of information.
Reading a novel, for example, does not provide a new character, setting or storyline every few seconds. Sometimes, a story takes time to develop. Readers must stay engaged long enough for the narrative to unfold.
In an environment where instant entertainment is always available, learning to appreciate that slower pace may require a little effort.
A 2026 study published in JAMA Network Open examined smartphone use among 79 young people aged 11 to 18. Participants spent an average of approximately 2.2 hours of the school day on their phones and checked them around 64 times during school hours. More frequent checking was associated with poorer cognitive control, although the study did not establish that smartphone use caused the difference.
These findings highlight how frequently phones can interrupt everyday activities, even during periods intended for learning.
The same habit can affect adults. A person may begin reading an interesting article, receive a notification, check a message and then spend several minutes browsing unrelated content. Returning to the original article can become surprisingly difficult.
Reading requires continuity. Even brief interruptions can make it harder to follow an argument, remember details or remain immersed in a story.
The challenge, therefore, is not necessarily that people have stopped enjoying books. It may be that maintaining uninterrupted attention has become more difficult amid constant digital distractions.
Researchers from the universities of Cambridge, Warwick and Fudan examined data involving more than 10,000 young adolescents in the United States. Their findings linked an earlier start to reading for pleasure with better cognitive performance and academic outcomes. Early recreational reading was also associated with better attention and fewer behavioural and mental health problems later on.
These associations do not prove that reading alone produces all these benefits. Family environments, educational opportunities and other personal circumstances may also play a role.
Nevertheless, the findings suggest that reading for pleasure deserves a place in discussions about children's learning and development.
Reading encourages people to follow ideas, understand different perspectives and engage with information beyond an immediate visual impression. Fiction can introduce readers to unfamiliar experiences, while biographies, history books and informative articles can expand their understanding of the world.
It also offers an opportunity to spend time with one subject without constantly switching to something else.
In a world where information is increasingly consumed in small portions, that experience can be valuable.
However, reading does not have to be a serious or demanding activity to be worthwhile.
Comics such as Tintin, Asterix and Amar Chitra Katha can be enjoyable starting points. Short stories, poetry, crime fiction, travel writing, biographies and magazine articles can also help people discover what interests them.
The most important step is finding material that makes reading enjoyable rather than treating it as another task to complete.
Someone who enjoys mystery stories may naturally develop an interest in longer novels. A person who prefers history might begin with short articles before exploring a detailed book. Children who enjoy comics may gradually become curious about other forms of storytelling.
There is no single route to becoming a reader.
The goal should not be to finish a certain number of books or impress others with a reading list. It should be to make reading a regular and enjoyable part of everyday life.
Waiting for a friend, travelling in a cab or sitting through a few quiet minutes before a meeting once offered opportunities to observe our surroundings or simply let our minds wander. Today, these moments often become opportunities to check our phones.
Boredom has become something many people try to eliminate immediately.
Yet, not every quiet moment needs to be filled with entertainment. Allowing the mind to wander can create space for reflection, while spending time on a single activity can help us become more comfortable with slower experiences.
Reading provides one way to practise this. It allows us to remain with a story, explore an idea or think about a character without requiring constant stimulation.
Of course, digital entertainment is not inherently harmful, and different activities serve different purposes. The concern arises when the desire for constant novelty begins to crowd out activities we also value.
If we find it increasingly difficult to sit through a chapter, a long conversation or a detailed explanation without reaching for our phones, it may be worth examining our everyday digital habits.
Here are a few practical ways to get started:
If children are regularly told that books are important while the adults around them spend most of their free time scrolling through phones, the message can feel inconsistent.
Parents and caregivers can help by keeping books accessible, reading alongside children and allowing them to choose stories that appeal to them. Visits to libraries and bookshops, exchanging comics or discussing a favourite character can also make reading feel like an enjoyable experience rather than an obligation.
There is no need to turn every reading session into a lesson about academic success. Children can read simply because a story is funny, a character is interesting or the illustrations capture their imagination.
Developing a positive relationship with reading early in life may encourage them to return to books as they grow older.
E-readers can store thousands of titles, mobile apps provide access to digital libraries, and audiobooks offer an alternative for people who prefer listening. Online communities can introduce readers to new authors, while digital publishing allows more voices to reach wider audiences.
The issue is not whether reading takes place on paper or a screen. It is whether people have the time, interest and attention to engage with what they are reading.
A smartphone can be a source of distraction, but it can also be a library. The same device that delivers endless short videos can provide access to novels, essays, poetry and long-form journalism.
What matters is how we choose to use it.
The more important question is whether reading for pleasure is receiving enough space in our increasingly crowded digital lives.
Perhaps the answer is not to read more difficult books or set ambitious targets. It may simply be to slow down occasionally, put the phone aside and spend time with something that holds our interest.
A few pages of a novel, a long-form article, a poem or even a comic can be a good place to start.
Reading does not need to become another productivity goal. It can be something we do because we enjoy the experience, discover new ideas or want to spend time in a different world.
I started reading regularly only about a year and a half ago, and the experience has made me wonder how many stories, ideas and perspectives I missed earlier. That realisation has also made me more interested in helping others discover the pleasure of reading.
Perhaps we are not losing books. Perhaps we are losing the patience to sit with them.
And if reading a comic such as Tintin helps bring that patience back, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
Why Is Reading Losing Its Place?
Not so long ago, people turned to books, newspapers and magazines to learn something new or escape into another world. Today, much of that information is available in shorter, faster formats. News comes through videos, product reviews appear as Reels, recipes are explained in minutes, and travel experiences are condensed into colourful montages.There is nothing inherently wrong with these formats. They are convenient, engaging and often useful. However, their growing popularity has created more competition for activities that require sustained attention, including reading.
Reading demands active participation. You have to follow the words, understand the context, imagine the scenes and connect ideas. Unlike a video that delivers information through visuals and sound, a book asks you to build much of the experience in your mind.
That effort can feel demanding when an endless stream of entertaining content is available at the tap of a screen.
How Short-Form Videos Affect Our Attention
One reason reading may feel more challenging today is the growing popularity of short-form video content. Platforms featuring quick clips allow users to move from one topic to another within seconds. If a video fails to capture their interest immediately, another is always waiting.Over time, this pattern raises questions about how comfortable we are with activities that require patience.
A 2025 analysis published in Psychological Bulletin examined 71 studies involving more than 98,000 participants. The findings linked greater short-form video use with poorer cognitive performance, particularly in attention and inhibitory control, which refers to the ability to resist distractions and control impulses.
However, these findings do not establish that short videos directly cause attention problems. The relationship may work in different ways, and other factors could influence the results. More research is needed to understand the long-term effects of these viewing habits.
Still, the findings offer a reason to think about how frequently we switch between different sources of information.
Reading a novel, for example, does not provide a new character, setting or storyline every few seconds. Sometimes, a story takes time to develop. Readers must stay engaged long enough for the narrative to unfold.
In an environment where instant entertainment is always available, learning to appreciate that slower pace may require a little effort.
Smartphones and the Habit of Constant Checking
Short-form videos are only one part of the picture. Smartphones have made it possible to access messages, news, games, social media and entertainment at virtually any moment.A 2026 study published in JAMA Network Open examined smartphone use among 79 young people aged 11 to 18. Participants spent an average of approximately 2.2 hours of the school day on their phones and checked them around 64 times during school hours. More frequent checking was associated with poorer cognitive control, although the study did not establish that smartphone use caused the difference.
These findings highlight how frequently phones can interrupt everyday activities, even during periods intended for learning.
The same habit can affect adults. A person may begin reading an interesting article, receive a notification, check a message and then spend several minutes browsing unrelated content. Returning to the original article can become surprisingly difficult.
Reading requires continuity. Even brief interruptions can make it harder to follow an argument, remember details or remain immersed in a story.
The challenge, therefore, is not necessarily that people have stopped enjoying books. It may be that maintaining uninterrupted attention has become more difficult amid constant digital distractions.
Does Reading Help Improve Attention and Learning?
Research on reading offers another perspective on why the habit deserves attention.Researchers from the universities of Cambridge, Warwick and Fudan examined data involving more than 10,000 young adolescents in the United States. Their findings linked an earlier start to reading for pleasure with better cognitive performance and academic outcomes. Early recreational reading was also associated with better attention and fewer behavioural and mental health problems later on.
These associations do not prove that reading alone produces all these benefits. Family environments, educational opportunities and other personal circumstances may also play a role.
Nevertheless, the findings suggest that reading for pleasure deserves a place in discussions about children's learning and development.
Reading encourages people to follow ideas, understand different perspectives and engage with information beyond an immediate visual impression. Fiction can introduce readers to unfamiliar experiences, while biographies, history books and informative articles can expand their understanding of the world.
It also offers an opportunity to spend time with one subject without constantly switching to something else.
In a world where information is increasingly consumed in small portions, that experience can be valuable.
Reading Does Not Have to Mean Finishing a Classic Novel
One reason people struggle to develop a reading habit is that they associate it with long novels, complicated language or books they feel they ought to read.However, reading does not have to be a serious or demanding activity to be worthwhile.
Comics such as Tintin, Asterix and Amar Chitra Katha can be enjoyable starting points. Short stories, poetry, crime fiction, travel writing, biographies and magazine articles can also help people discover what interests them.
The most important step is finding material that makes reading enjoyable rather than treating it as another task to complete.
Someone who enjoys mystery stories may naturally develop an interest in longer novels. A person who prefers history might begin with short articles before exploring a detailed book. Children who enjoy comics may gradually become curious about other forms of storytelling.
There is no single route to becoming a reader.
The goal should not be to finish a certain number of books or impress others with a reading list. It should be to make reading a regular and enjoyable part of everyday life.
Are We Losing the Ability to Enjoy Slow Activities?
The discussion about reading extends beyond books. It also raises a broader question about how we spend our time.Waiting for a friend, travelling in a cab or sitting through a few quiet minutes before a meeting once offered opportunities to observe our surroundings or simply let our minds wander. Today, these moments often become opportunities to check our phones.
Boredom has become something many people try to eliminate immediately.
Yet, not every quiet moment needs to be filled with entertainment. Allowing the mind to wander can create space for reflection, while spending time on a single activity can help us become more comfortable with slower experiences.
Reading provides one way to practise this. It allows us to remain with a story, explore an idea or think about a character without requiring constant stimulation.
Of course, digital entertainment is not inherently harmful, and different activities serve different purposes. The concern arises when the desire for constant novelty begins to crowd out activities we also value.
If we find it increasingly difficult to sit through a chapter, a long conversation or a detailed explanation without reaching for our phones, it may be worth examining our everyday digital habits.
Can We Build a Reading Habit in the Digital Age?
Developing a reading habit does not require abandoning smartphones or deleting every entertainment app. Small changes can make reading easier to fit into daily life.Here are a few practical ways to get started:
- Start with 10 minutes a day: A short, manageable reading session is easier to maintain than an ambitious target of finishing an entire book each week.
- Choose books you genuinely enjoy: Pick fiction, comics, poetry, biographies or non-fiction based on your interests rather than what others recommend.
- Keep a book within reach: Carry a paperback or use an e-reader so that reading becomes an option during breaks or commutes.
- Reduce distractions: Put your phone on silent or keep it out of reach while reading to avoid frequent interruptions.
- Replace some scrolling time: Instead of trying to eliminate social media completely, use a small portion of that time to read a few pages.
- Explore different formats: Physical books, e-books and audiobooks can all make literature more accessible, depending on your preferences and circumstances.
- Make reading a shared activity: Parents can read with children, friends can exchange books, and families can set aside a few minutes for reading together.
Why Adults Need to Set an Example for Children
Encouraging children to read becomes more meaningful when they see adults doing it themselves.If children are regularly told that books are important while the adults around them spend most of their free time scrolling through phones, the message can feel inconsistent.
Parents and caregivers can help by keeping books accessible, reading alongside children and allowing them to choose stories that appeal to them. Visits to libraries and bookshops, exchanging comics or discussing a favourite character can also make reading feel like an enjoyable experience rather than an obligation.
There is no need to turn every reading session into a lesson about academic success. Children can read simply because a story is funny, a character is interesting or the illustrations capture their imagination.
Developing a positive relationship with reading early in life may encourage them to return to books as they grow older.
Technology Is Not the Enemy of Reading
It would be unfair to blame technology for every change in reading habits. Digital platforms have also made books more accessible.E-readers can store thousands of titles, mobile apps provide access to digital libraries, and audiobooks offer an alternative for people who prefer listening. Online communities can introduce readers to new authors, while digital publishing allows more voices to reach wider audiences.
The issue is not whether reading takes place on paper or a screen. It is whether people have the time, interest and attention to engage with what they are reading.
A smartphone can be a source of distraction, but it can also be a library. The same device that delivers endless short videos can provide access to novels, essays, poetry and long-form journalism.
What matters is how we choose to use it.
Are We Really Losing the Habit of Reading?
Books are unlikely to disappear anytime soon. Publishers continue to produce new titles, bookstores remain part of many communities, and readers have more ways than ever to access written content.The more important question is whether reading for pleasure is receiving enough space in our increasingly crowded digital lives.
Perhaps the answer is not to read more difficult books or set ambitious targets. It may simply be to slow down occasionally, put the phone aside and spend time with something that holds our interest.
A few pages of a novel, a long-form article, a poem or even a comic can be a good place to start.
Reading does not need to become another productivity goal. It can be something we do because we enjoy the experience, discover new ideas or want to spend time in a different world.
I started reading regularly only about a year and a half ago, and the experience has made me wonder how many stories, ideas and perspectives I missed earlier. That realisation has also made me more interested in helping others discover the pleasure of reading.
Perhaps we are not losing books. Perhaps we are losing the patience to sit with them.
And if reading a comic such as Tintin helps bring that patience back, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
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