Deep Reading in a World of ‘Scroll’: How to Return to Intentional Reading

The Challenge of Attentive Reading in the Digital Age

In today’s fast-paced, digitally-driven world, we are constantly bombarded with stimuli. Our phones buzz incessantly, platforms vie for our attention, and reading a complete text can seem like an accomplishment, especially for younger individuals (and not just the young).

As a university professor, I frequently observe that many students struggle to grasp what is being asked of them not due to inability, but because they don’t read attentively. They often overlook crucial aspects of an assignment, ignore explicit conditions, or submit incomplete tasks.

This pattern isn’t anecdotal; it’s a recurring theme across various subjects and courses, appearing to be part of a generational trend. For instance, I recently screened the renowned “invisible gorilla” video in class, a classic psychological experiment where only around 42% of participants typically spot the gorilla. In my class, however, 90% noticed it.

At first glance, this might suggest an improvement in divided attention capacity. However, qualitative observations indicate the opposite: most students didn’t listen attentively to the initial instructions (“count the number of passes the white-shirted team makes to each other. Pay attention and consider both aerial passes and rebound passes”).

Superficial Reading and Cognitive Dispersion

Numerous studies concur that Generation Z exhibits a decline in the ability to concentrate while reading, particularly in academic settings. Experts note that current students “read quickly but not effectively.” Deep reading is hindered by multitasking, information fatigue, and a preference for brief, visual, multi-modal content (text, video, music).

Moreover, we all today exist in an information ecosystem fragmented by immediacy over reflection. A 2015 Microsoft Canada internal report confirmed a decrease in sustained attention span by four seconds (from 12 to 8). Another study by the New York Times with experts from Carnegie Mellon University’s Human-Machine Interaction Lab found that those frequently interrupted give 20% more incorrect responses.

Do We Read Less or Read Differently?

Despite these statistics, it’s incorrect to say young people don’t read. They simply read differently. A 2023 Wattpad study revealed that 67% of Generation Z members regularly read on their mobile devices, valuing diverse representation. They also consume more fiction of genres like fantasy, horror, or science fiction compared to previous generations.

Instead of dismissing these new formats, we should understand that reading habits have shifted towards digital, mobile, and interactive environments. The key isn’t to judge what they read but to assist them in regaining the intention behind their reading.

1. Relearning Intentional Reading

Academic and professional reading demands more than word decoding; it requires interpretation, selection, relation, and inference. These cognitive tasks necessitate sustained attention, critical thinking, and emotional regulation.

Fortunately, effective strategies exist to help university students (and all of us) regain more attentive and profound reading, such as:

1. Teaching metacognitive strategies like active rereading, strategic highlighting, and formulating questions during reading has significantly improved reading comprehension.

2. Reading aloud or in groups, practiced in collaborative contexts, can foster concentration and critical interpretation of texts.

3. Promoting slow, deliberate reading can counteract superficial reading habits developed in digital environments. In the classroom, this could translate into guided reading sessions, reflective annotations, or exercises comparing sources with varying depth levels.

4. Training in identifying the author’s voice, analyzing discourse genres, or understanding argumentative structure also strengthens strategic competence, crucial for deep comprehension.

Reading is ultimately a complex cultural and mental practice that should be explicitly taught, not merely assumed as innate.

Reading is Understanding and Decision-Making

In a constantly overstimulating environment, thorough reading isn’t an assured skill. It’s a competency that requires training, care, and reevaluation. If we don’t teach Generation Z active reading strategies, we risk producing professionals who struggle to understand what’s asked of them, make decisions without grasping data, or fail to distinguish reliable sources from misleading headlines.

Key Questions and Answers

• Q: Why is deep reading important? A: Deep reading requires interpreting, selecting, relating, and inferring, all of which necessitate sustained attention, critical thinking, and emotional regulation.
• Q: How has digital technology affected reading habits? A: Digital technology has led to superficial reading due to multitasking, information fatigue, and a preference for brief, visual, multi-modal content.
• Q: Do younger generations read less? A: No, they read differently. They consume more fiction and engage with content on mobile devices.
• Q: What strategies can help improve reading comprehension? A: Metacognitive strategies, group reading, deliberate reading, and training in identifying author’s voice can enhance deep comprehension.