Scrolling over Stories: Are Youngsters Reading Less Nowadays?

News Desk

18 Feb, 2026

Scrolling over Stories: Are Youngsters Reading Less Nowadays?

Despite digital access, the habit of reading seems to be slipping through the cracks

It is ironic to think about how the internet and technology have exponentially increased our access to newspaper articles, poems, and stories free of cost. Yet, on the other hand, the ease of access has led to the practical decline of both paperback and e-books, as many are too busy expending all their time on the booming side of the internet: social media.

E-books and online reading offer numerous benefits, including the fact that most books and novels are available as freely accessible PDFs, allowing you to read anywhere without the need to travel. With that, keep a book in your bag, and there you have it: a sort of hybrid reading catered to every situation, with only your willpower standing in the way.

Yet, most of us are often more absorbed in the timeless scrolling of social media reels, videos, and posts, simply because it's easier to do so, rather than embracing the journey of navigating the plots and complexities of a story.

Statistically, a cross-sectional study on 2658 university students from Bangladesh found that about 50% of students reported wasting time on social media, sleeping late and having reduced concentration spans1, whereas 6 minutes of reading a day reduces stress by up to 68%, according to a 2009 study by the University of Sussex.2

The influence of peer culture often determines our activities. Public libraries, literary discussions and newspapers were an inseparable part of youth culture for older generations. Now, with their decline, such youth culture has been evidently replaced with the overarching dominance of memes and social media trends over e-book forums.

In addition, the fact that smartphones and laptops have innumerable uses makes it less likely to be enticed into long and pensive reading sessions, as notifications and entertainment apps constantly compete for attention, breaking the flow. To make reading like a serene breeze, it’s wise to lock out other activities during the period.

It’s also noteworthy how rapid urbanisation around us has erased quiet spaces. Libraries are declining, and parks are often too crowded and chaotic.

Nevertheless, there are still a lot of places that hold the paperback reading legacy. Book fairs like the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela are the country’s most celebrated, drawing crowds and youngsters alike. Rising each year, the month-long event generated over Tk603 crore in 2024 in book sales, according to the Bangla Academy, which illustrates a splendid interest among youngsters.

Furthermore, reading cafes in Dhaka are becoming more prevalent: spaces designed with the perfect ambience and environment to delve into reading with a cup of coffee. Institutions like the Bishwo Shahitto Kendro in Banglamotor and Pathak Shamabesh in Kawran Bazar have stood strong for decades, offering books at subsidised prices and keeping the book community alive.

The transition from scrolling to reading is a gateway to a liberal mindset: you learn to embrace new ideas through the eyes of someone else. Each genre has its charm; you just have to find which one suits you.

Rather than treating reading as a luxury that time doesn’t permit, we must begin to see it as a daily necessity: an act of enrichment for the mind.

Whether it is a few pages before bed or during a morning commute, the habit of reading calms the mind, sharpens attention and unlocks the gateway to a world of knowledge and insight. Amidst the noise of social media, books offer a much-needed silence worth embracing!