Literacy rates are falling even in the “civilized” world. And the risk is short-sighted thinking
Fewer books, less comprehension, more distraction. By 2026, reading had become a rare skill.
In the most connected world in history, paradoxically, we are losing the ability to understand.Data from the latest international tests are clear: in so-called “civilized” countries, non-technical literacy—the deeper kind—is declining. People are reading less. They are understanding less. They are reflecting less.
It’s not a matter of “knowing how to read words.” It’s a matter of knowing how to use them.
What the Numbers Say
The OECD, UNESCO, and research institutes all point to the same trend:
- A decline in regular readers under 35
- A reduction in time spent on books and long
-form articles- Increasing difficulty in distinguishing facts, opinions, and fake news We know how to scroll. We struggle to stop.
The 4 Main Causes
1. The tyranny of speed
TikTok, Reels, notifications. Our brains have grown accustomed to 15-second clips. A 1,000-word article feels like “too much.”
2. The illusion of knowledge
With everything on Google, why memorize? Why delve deeper? The result is “liquid information”: it comes and goes without leaving a trace.
3. Less Time, More NoiseWork,
home, social media. Silence and concentration have become luxuries.
4. Schools Under Pressure
With packed curriculums and little emphasis on reading for pleasure, we’re producing students who are good at passing tests but less good at loving books.
Why It’s a Serious Issue
It’s not just a cultural issue. It’s political and social.
Without critical reading, three pillars crumble:
- Empathy: books allow us to get inside other people’s minds
- Language: fewer words read = fewer words to express ourselves
- Democratic safeguards: a citizen who doesn’t delve deeper is more vulnerable to manipulation
If we stop reading, we stop thinking.
And a world that stops thinking is a world that ceases to be truly civilized.
