One third of teenagers have not read a book in the last year
If you can’t remember the last time you saw a teenager reading a book, newspaper or magazine, you’re not alone. In recent years, less than 20 percent of teens report reading a book, magazine or newspaper daily for pleasure, while more than 80 percent say they use social media every day.
Teens Today Spend More Time on Digital Media, Less Time Reading
Results
The results represent more than 1 million teenagers:
- In the 1970s – 60% of high school seniors read a book, newspaper or magazine every day.
- Today this figure has dropped to only 16% of teens.
This latest statistic is not stressing that our teens can’t read or don’t read. Or that they are less intelligent. Instead, it is referring to the type of content that they read. In fact, our kids are reading lots – but it’s texting and social media like Instagram, TikTok etc.
Since the mid-2010s, the average Year 12 student reported spending about 6 hours per day using digital media: roughly 2 hours each texting, surfing the internet and using social media. Year 10 students reported an average of 5 hours of use per day.
“Think about how difficult it must be to read even five pages of an 800-page college textbook when you’ve been used to spending most of your time switching between one digital activity and another in a matter of seconds. It really highlights the challenges students and faculty both face in the current era,” said Twenge, professor of psychology at San Diego State University.
So what can we do as parents and educators?
With such stiff competition, it becomes even more important for teachers and library staff to work together to engage each and every student with reading. We strongly believe in engaging our teens with something of interest– something appealing, stimulating, or unexpected – waiting for them when they do take the time to read. This is behind the success of our programs ~ Literacy for Kids and Literacy for Boys ~ in high schools this year. For teens, the content must be relevant, varied and offer choice. Our high schoolers love the ‘unexpected’ element when we upload new topics and content!
Why is it important for teens to read?
Schools aren’t just about teaching children to read, but teaching children to be social beings.
— Michael Rosen
Promoting the habit of reading, widely, into their teenage years helps teens to:
- deal with their increasingly complex world, and understand some of the adult issues they will have to grapple with
- know they are not alone – that others may be thinking and feeling the way they do
- open lines of communication, particularly if parents, teachers, librarians provide opportunities to discuss what teens are reading
- share and see how others have found solutions to problems
- develop their vocabulary
- broaden their imaginations
- improve their writing
- deal with the increasing demands of schoolwork
- gain confidence when speaking.
For more information, listen to this 6 minute podcast from Dr Michael Carr-Gregg (one of Australia’s highest profile psychologists and specialist in parenting, children and adolescents).
Check out our blogs for more ideas and tips.
Building a Classroom library that improves student literacy
5 Ways to Build Student Confidence
Boys Love LFB – Here’s what they have to say!
Something extra…
Watch this 2 minute clip on how former Google and Facebook employees are joining together to protect kids from social media addiction.
Brought to you by Tanya Grambower
