Reading in the Digital Age

Abstract: The purpose of this paper was to analyze students’ reading habits, see what benefits reading can bring to an individual, and to research what affect screen time has on reading. Through a thorough review of available literature as well as a mixed-method approach where I surveyed 52 students in grades 4, 5, 6 and interviewed parents, a librarian and teacher, I was able to better understand reading in our current “digital age”. I have concluded that reading is indeed beneficial, that it is on the decline, and that screen time is on the rise. In addition, I have found patterns that can help educators and parents support this growing imbalance, such as setting screen-time restrictions, creating a so called “book-consciousness” in the home and classroom, and encouraging library visits and a more diverse canon for students to select books from.