Consumption of digital media has changed the way we read, comprehend, and even think. As of 2022, the average American spends 16 minutes reading for pleasure. In contrast, as of 2024, they spend over 7 hours a day in front of their screens.
Maria Konnikova, in her 2014 New Yorker article, “Being a Better Online Reader”, expresses concern that the movement from print to digital has potentially damaged our capacity for understanding, comprehension, and deep reading.
With the firehose of information, endless opportunities for mindless scrolling, along with our dwindling 10–20 second attention spans, the concern is valid.
What is Deep Reading?
Taking a step back, you might be wondering what I mean by “deep reading”. In Konnikova’s article, she quotes Maryanne Wolf in saying it’s “sophisticated comprehension”. In simpler terms, it’s focused, intentional reading for understanding and enjoyment. This directly contrasts with our evolving digital skimming habits.
Why it Matters
Since our reading habits are being shaped by the digital landscape, so too is the content. To keep pace with decreasing attention spans and troves of available information, the content itself seems more focused on quick attention-grabbing and less human connection, adding to the overall concern.
In Nicholas Carr’s 2008 article in The Atlantic, “Is Google Making Us Stupid”, he writes that as distracted readers we’re less likely to make meaningful connections to what we read, and with the anticipation of rapid access to short-form information, we’re less capable of concentrating. This asks the question whether that convenience is to blame for shallow reading.
Hope is Not Lost
With the concern comes a glimmer of hope. Konnikova’s article also says digital reading may not lead to less comprehension, but different comprehension. It invites us to meet the moment by re-training the brain to read deeply by learning new skills. She quotes Wolf again saying we can use the brain’s plasticity, its ability to adapt between deep and shallow reading, to become deep readers in digital environments.
If you’re worried you’ve lost your knack for meaningful, immersive reading and critical thinking, with that hope in mind, it might just take a little bit of discipline. Here are a few tips to get your brain back on track.
- Create environments for distraction-free reading, like silencing notifications.
- Carve out dedicated chunks of time for a deeper reading experience.
- Take handwritten notes when reading digitally.
- Alternate between digital reading and print.
Are We Shallow Readers?
To answer the question, has digital media made us shallow readers, ask yourself if this is you. Maybe this knowledge is an invitation to turn down the noise, slow down, and take the time to connect intentionally and deeply with content you love.
What do you think? If this has been illuminating for your own reading and digital habits, I’d love to hear any insights, inspirations, and take-aways in the comments.
Sources:
- Richter, Felix. “Chart: Reading For Pleasure Declines in Popularity.” Statista, April 19, 2022. https://www.statista.com/chart/27287/average-hours-spent-per-day-by-americans-reading-for-pleasure/
- “Average Screen Time Statistics.” Cross River Therapy, 2024. https://www.crossrivertherapy.com/research/screen-time-statistics
- Konnikova, Maria. “Being a Better Online Reader.” The New Yorker, July 16, 2014. https://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/being-a-better-online-reader
- Nielsen, Jakob. “How Long Do Users Stay on Web Pages?” NG Group, September 11, 2011. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/how-long-do-users-stay-on-web-pages/
- Nordquist, Richard. “A Guide to Deep Reading.” ThoughtCo, April 16, 2025. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-deep-reading-1690373
- Hendrick, Carl. “Ultra-Processed Minds: The End of Deep Reading and What It Costs Us.” The Learning Dispatch, April 17, 2025. https://carlhendrick.substack.com/p/ultra-processed-minds-the-end-of
- Carr, Nicholas. “Is Google Making Us Stupid? What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains.” The Atlantic, July/August 2008. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/306868/