How to Get Better at Reading

"Bookmark Reading Charity has reported that the rate of poor literacy is up by 20% compared to 2018/19, over seven million adults in England struggle with basic reading skills, and a quarter of children leave primary school unable to read well. In their Annual Literacy Survey 2024, the National Literacy Trust found that only one in three 8 to 18-year-olds say they enjoy reading in their spare time."

"Why are people turning their backs on books? Access, or the lack thereof, is a key factor. The National Literacy Trust's research indicates that 1 in 7 UK primary schools don't have a library, with the figure rising in disadvantaged areas. Similarly, in these areas more kids report not having their own books at home and parents are buying fewer books due to the cost of living crisis."

"Though screens can offer a more accessible entry point for reluctant and less engaged readers, the use of social media reduces the time available for reading and shortens attention spans. A recent study published in JAMA shows that preteens with heavy social media usage perform poorer in reading, vocabulary and memory tests than those with little or no social media usage."

"Writing in the Financial Times in March, data journalist John Burn-Murdoch asked, 'have humans passed peak brainpower?". Tests show that the "average person's ability to reason and solve novel problems appears to have peaked in the early 2010s and has been declining ever since." The rise of smartphones and social media have a part to play in this but Burn-Murdoch also points to "a shift in our relationship with information", particularly the move from tex"

Poor literacy in the UK has risen by 20% since 2018/19, with over seven million adults in England struggling with basic reading and a quarter of children leaving primary school unable to read well. Only one in three 8–18-year-olds report enjoying reading in their spare time. Reading for pleasure is also falling in the US, with just 16% reading for pleasure in a recent study. Access is limited: 1 in 7 UK primary schools lack a library, disadvantaged children report fewer home books, and rising living costs reduce book purchases. Heavy social media use correlates with poorer reading, vocabulary and memory in preteens. Broader data suggest average reasoning and problem-solving peaked in the early 2010s and have declined since, linked to smartphones, social media, and shifts in how information is consumed.

Read at London On The Inside