Teenagers don’t read anymore. Think what you will, but it’s true; look around the school library, and you’ll see countless books on the shelves that are waiting to be read, collecting dust as more and more people simply forget about them, as if they were just for decoration. I’ve always had a certain fondness for reading; sinking into my pillows and venturing into a different world for just a moment is already enough to keep me entertained and stimulate my mind for hours. It’s something I grew up loving and exploring, and to watch literature – something that has shaped the thoughts and perspectives of countless generations – lose its importance in the modern world is absolutely heartbreaking.
Many might argue that reading was simply a pastime to previous generations because they didn’t have what teenagers have today: technology. Yes, it’s a lot more entertaining to binge-watch the newest season of your favorite TV show or scroll through cute cat videos, but those pieces of media don’t help you in the long run. In fact, they only entertain you because looking at a screen triggers short bursts of dopamine in your brain, especially when it’s in the form of short videos; similar to what you would see scrolling through TikTok or Instagram Reels. Reading doesn’t trigger empty happiness like what a teenager tends to consume on their phones daily; instead, it stimulates thinking and forces their brains to imagine a variety of scenarios, serving as an exercise of creativity.
Another excuse for not reading often is that many feel like they’re “picky readers”; no genre pleases them—it’s boring to read. What these same individuals normally fail to recognize is that books aren’t only there to be a source of entertainment, but they serve as a source of intellectual growth as well. The act of reading, even if it’s just for 10 minutes a day, helps more than you know when it comes to expanding your vocabulary, applying grammar conventions, and overall text comprehension. I have had countless people ask me: “how do I get better at writing?” Read. Just read. That’s the answer I will give you.
Think of your writing skills as a muscle; what do we know about muscles? They atrophy when not exercised. The more you read, the more you’re indirectly contextualizing different grammatical structures and interpreting language usage, so that each time you write your own piece of literature (whether it be an essay, an article, or a story) you can apply elements you learnt from your reading when communicating your ideas.
Moreover, there are the pensive implications of reading; it helps you mature your interpretations of the events around you. Since, most of the time, authors have the intention of relaying a message through their writing, reading helps you develop an understanding of various different perspectives. Ultimately, this only helps broaden your understanding of contemporary events.
Overall, this severe lack of reading amongst teens nowadays is only going to hinder our growth; both intellectually and creatively. We need to bring back avid readers, even if little by little, teenagers must start reading again.
Image: Violet Trajtenberg
