Can you recall the last time you read an entire book?

Nowadays, people prefer watching videos instead of reading, whereas according to a recent study, reading refines the imagination, which increases creativity.

In Short

• Indians spend over 4 hours daily, exceeding the international average by 1 hour
• Only 29 percent prefer reading newspapers in India as per Reuters report
• E-books and podcasts are poised to replace traditional reading formats

When was the last time you read a complete book? This question can make you a little worried, but we are indeed losing the reading habit and shifting towards video content. For many people, the trend of reading books can go back to months, years or even decades.

Bill Gates, owner of Microsoft many times, highlighted how important reading a book can be and how it can change your life forever.

Gates reads 50 books each year, and during the holidays he keeps a bag full of books with him. Gates also mentioned that whenever he starts a book, he always finishes it. "I refuse to stop reading a book in the middle, even if I don't like it," Gates told The Times in 2017. He also explained how his voracious reading habits have been essential to his success.

With advancing technology, orthodoxical methods of accessing information are changing. With increasing reliance on gadgets, human involvement is diminishing in various aspects of life.

We are surrounded by gadgets like mobile phones, tablets, and laptops more than ever before. These gadgets are constantly impacting our ability to read and increasing our dependency on them for consuming information, especially through visual and auditory means.

The trend has rapidly changed, with a preference for sending voice notes over chatting apps like WhatsApp and Telegram.

GROWING TREND OF BINGE WATCHING

Visual media dominance can be seen widely. The growth of YouTube supports that, with other applications, taking over the space. Binge-watching has quickly become popular with other reel-supporting sites. This has commonly been accepted nowadays.

According to the latest annual streaming trends report by Amazon Fire TV, Indians are spending an average of over four hours binge-watching content on their Fire TV devices. This data highlights a significant trend in viewing habits, showing that a substantial portion of viewers are engaged in extended periods of streaming entertainment.

In recent years, digital streaming platforms have been flooded with a multitude of binge-watching, signalling a profound shift in television and film consumption.

Services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, ZEE 5 have revolutionised how audiences engage with content, offering unparalleled access to an extensive selection of series and movies that promote marathon viewing.

According to statistics, the number of smartphone users has reached 1 billion, with 90 percent of them preferring to watch videos online. Additionally, people are spending more time on videos, movies, TV shows, and audiobooks.

The latest report by marketing firm In-Mobi's Mobile Marketing Handbook-2024 suggests that an average Indian individual spends more than 4 hours, which is one hour above the International average.

The increasing impact of extra screen time is directly related to our minds, which further gives birth to several diseases. This also affects mind skilfulness as well as creativity and reduces attention span.

AGE OF DIGITALISATION

Smartphones and streaming sites also have affected our deep understanding of things and the way we deeply figure out various things. Microsoft Corporation has conducted a study about our attention span, and it was found out that we are not able to hold our attention for more than 8 seconds, which also highlights the influence of a digital lifestyle.

We have beaten up the goldfish, which accounts for the shortest attention span, as per the study.

California university professor Dr Gloria Mark states that short video culture has contributed to the highest reduction of attention span. Also, watching videos for a longer time and increased screen time visualisation negatively.

People have now shifted to listening and visualising, which took over the space of reading for a long time. This change is determined by social, technical and psychological reasons.

Reuters has published a report where 71 per cent of Indians watch news online, whereas only 29 per cent prefer reading newspapers.

With the rise of podcast culture, a transformational shift can be observed in reading patterns; specific platforms are there to serve the cause of empowering podcast culture. People are often seen connecting podcast culture with the legacy of radio.

Audiobooks, along with podcasts, are gaining popularity as an alternative to traditional reading. Listening to audiobooks relies on auditory processing rather than visualising texts, which may not stimulate deep thinking or engage the mind as thoroughly as reading.

There has been a rise of 95 percent in podcast users in the last 5 years worldwide that takes the users to fifty crore in 2024 as per, statista report.

According to a survey by Audible, owned by Amazon, user listening hours have increased by 39 percent since 2021. People are now favouring audiobooks and podcasts over reading printed content. One key reason is that audiobooks and podcasts can be listened to anywhere, without the need to carry physical books or copies.

COVID-19 has boosted the culture of e-books and audiobooks in India.

READING IGNITES IMAGINATION

Neuroscience suggests that reading impacts our mind and rewires its functions for better thinking. It's more like a mental workout. Reading also helps us to understand the perspective of others that can differ from ours and hence boosts our emotional quotient.

Experts from the Neuroscience field suggest that reading content which challenges your perspective on life and the world around you can enhance your ability to focus and adapt to complex situations. Reading activity strengthens your ability to imagine alternative paths, remember details, scenes, and thought processes through tough situations.

The benefits of reading are not only restricted to cognitive ability but also promote youthfulness of mind. Reading can prevent memory loss, reduce the risk of stress and prevent different kinds of dementia in older adults.

One should not forget that reading also has many benefits. Reading refines people's imagination, which increases creativity and develops reasoning. Therefore, reading should also be encouraged, so that in future we do not remain slaves of machines.

Reading also allows us to think more creatively and boost the level of artistry in the human mind as suggested in various reports.

Take an example of a fantasy novel. While reading it, you might begin imagining magical realms with dragons and wizards. The imagination could spark the darkest parts of your brain and let you be fully involved.

CHANGING PATTERN IN EDUCATION

According to a report by Statistics, the number of smartphone users in India has crossed 100 crores, of which 90 per cent watch videos. In this technological world, the methods of educational studies are also changing. Video lectures and digital media have now replaced books and articles.

While on one hand, visuals and audio make it easier to understand and learn, they are also affecting the study habits of students.

According to India's leading online learning company, Unacademy, more than five crore active learners study with them. At the same time, the number of people studying on streaming platforms like YouTube is much higher than this.

A growing number of video platforms are seeing increased user engagement, as students prefer watching educational videos over studying from traditional books.

But if the trend continues like this, then our habit of reading and writing will gradually be limited to only educational work and other professions related to reading and writing.

Scholars and researchers are worried about the declining trend of reading and raise the question if we will outcast the habit of reading in the near future.