Reading books in the USA has halved in 20 years
Over the past twenty years, the sharp decline in interest in reading books has caused great concern among international scientists. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
It has been found that the number of people in the USA who regularly read books, magazines, or electronic publications has nearly halved. This conclusion was presented in the latest study published in the journal "iScience".
Researchers analyzed extensive time-use surveys conducted by the US Census Bureau from 2003 to 2023. More than 236,000 respondents aged 15 and older participated in the surveys.
According to the results, in the early 2000s, approximately 27 percent of survey participants spent time reading books or other publications daily, whereas in 2023, this figure dropped to only 16 percent. Jill Sonke, a scientist from the University of Florida, assessed this situation not as temporary but as a steady decline of about 3 percent annually.
At the same time, it was noted that those who continue reading are dedicating more time to it than before. For example, the average reading time 20 years ago was 1 hour and 23 minutes per day, while today it reaches 1 hour and 37 minutes.
Scientists call this process “polarization”: a portion of the population is increasingly engaged in reading, while others have completely abandoned it. Experts explain the decline in readership by the popularity of digital games and other entertainment media, reduced access to libraries, economic difficulties, and social factors leading to less free time.
According to scientists, reading books is important not only for spiritual and cultural values but also for human health. Reading develops cognitive abilities, reduces stress, and helps promote longevity.
Daisy Fancourt, a professor at University College London, also drew attention to this issue, emphasizing that the decline in book reading is a serious signal for society. In her opinion, the loss of such a simple and accessible activity for everyone is a significant problem.
