Merely four decades ago, older generations frowned upon the youth for spending their leisure time reading. To many, being literate was perceived as the greatest capability of mankind. Recently, however, there has been a sharp shift away from the admiration of reading. The lack of literacy in modern youth is a prevalent, actively worsening issue attributed to the prevalence of technology.
Since the coronavirus pandemic, students have turned from common hobbies, specifically those that revolved around developing reading and writing skills. The typical hobbies youth adopt focus on coping with high levels of stress rather than enhancing their education. According to the Professional Convention Management Association, there were over seven million Google searches on “pastimes and coronavirus” within four weeks of the national lockdown. Yet, by the end of the pandemic, these pastimes were brought onto a digitalized base.
The pandemic made students far more advanced in the world of technology, yet detached from the greatest suggested source of education: reading. A report from the National Assessment of Educational Process found that reading scores have dropped five points among nine-year-olds and four points among 13-year-olds. The scale for this test ranges from zero to 500, with scores now averaging at 275. This insinuates a lack of emphasis placed on fundamental reading and writing skills.
Between the time of the panemic and now, there has been a heavier focus on digitized education. Students are trained to be digitally literate over being trained in “genuine” literacy. The drastic increase in screentime for educational purposes contributed to a drastic increase in screen time as a means of recreation as well. There is a correlation between technology and the motivation of people, as analyzed by the technology consultation company On Demand. Additionally, there is a suggested correlation between said lack of motivation and academic levels of students. Hence, students who are absorbed in the online world are typically far less likely to succeed academically.
Most concerns with the trend of illiteracy are centered around the concept of “functional literacy.” In other words, the concern with one’s capability of immersing oneself in activities that require literacy to be completed successfully. These activities particularly include reading and writing on a physical, not-digital basis.
Functional literacy was advancing more significantly in the late 20th century compared to new data. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, literacy hit a surge beginning in the 1940s. By the early 1980s, the overwhelming majority of citizens were literate; only 20% being illiterate. As of a study from 2023, around 21% of American adults, equivalent to 43 million people, possess low literacy skills. There have been more rapid improvements in literacy rates in the 40 years between 1940 and 1980, yet only a one percent increase since the 1980s to now.
For perspective, most developed countries have an adult literacy rate of over 96%. That puts the United States at an unfortunate yet significant lead in illiteracy rates compared to other leading nations.
To address issues with illiteracy, it is vital to remove strict computer-based learning from school curriculums. The possession of physical assignments is far more beneficial to students’ comprehension of materials, according to Eastern Washington University. The encouragement of paper assignments would keep students from constant use of screens; therefore promoting a higher motivation to learn.
In a computerized era, straying from the use of technology is impossible; however, utilizing it as a basis of education is not. For the future of American literacy, it is essential to acknowledge the rapid decline of literacy and address it through revamping the education system. Papers need to be reintroduced into classrooms, and students need to regain their motivation to learn. America is ahead on illiteracy, but it needs to keep pace with other dominant nations.