Decreasing Rates of Reading Books: Causes and Solutions

With the development of technology, while our lives are getting easier, some of our traditional habits are also being deeply affected. One of these habits is reading books. A certain decrease is observed in the rate of reading books with the development of technology, the busy pace of life, and the spread of alternative fun tools. But books are not only a way of taking information but also an important tool for improving imagination. What are the reasons for the decrease in this rate? What could be done to obstruct the decrease in the rate? In this study, today’s situation the habit of reading books will be analyzed, problems will be discussed, and solutions will be offered.

The most effective reason for the decrease in the rate of reading books is undoubtedly being in the age of digitalization. People spend most of their daily time on some platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok, due to the active usage of social media. Getting used to short content shortens focus time, and this makes people more impatient. In the digital world, short content is more popular than others. Consuming these contents for a long time creates a feeling of impatience for long texts. The person who got used to consuming short content gets bored from reading books; that’s why he/she continues to consume content in the digital world. These short contents also decrease people’s attention time, and doing this activity is getting difficult because reading books requires long-term attention. Acceleration of life in today’s world is also one of the reasons that decreases this rate. It is becoming difficult for people to spend time reading books due to the pace of modern life. People feel exhausted because they are on a pace between work, school, and housework, and they avoid reading books, which requires a deep focus. Alternative fun tools are the first activity that they prefer in their tired times. Watching movies and series is becoming more attractive instead of reading a book. And this decreases the time for reading books. Besides, the existence and usage of audiobooks and podcasts puts the experience of traditional reading books in the background. The love of reading books should be instilled to increase the rate of reading books. Mandatory curriculum books and mandatory lesson books that are read in the education system decrease the love of reading. That’s why the rate still affected badly. The rate of reading books is also affected because of economic reasons. The rising price of books makes it difficult to buy; that’s why audiobooks are generally preferred. 

There are many ways to increase the rate of reading. For example, technology can be turned into an advantage. The rate of reading books can rise by using platforms like audiobooks and e-books. Specifying reading goals by using reading apps like Goodreads can be motivational for people about reading. To ease the reach of books for traditional readers can be helpful to increase the rate of reading. The existence of more libraries can make it easy to access books freely. Apart from these, the events of exchanging books can be organized. Thanks to this, books can be exchanged and can reach more readers. It is a necessity to increase the culture of reading in family and environment. Family members setting an example for their children reinforces the reading habit. Setting social environments like reading clubs can increase the love of reading.

Increasing the rate of reading books has many benefits for both individuals and society. Reading books increases communication skills, improves imagination, and decreases stress. These things can be beneficial for the person in terms of personal development. Providing more conscious individuals with reading improves skills of critical thinking, and the consciousness of individuals enables society to be conscious. Rising of the rate of reading is also important in terms of cultural wealth. Books provide an understanding of different cultures. Decreasing the rate of reading books creates a serious problem individually and socially. However, with the right strategies, increasing this rate and recreating reading culture in society are possible. Raising awareness among individuals contributes greatly to society. Instilling reading habits in individuals by using digital tools and encouraging a reading culture is important for the future.