The Decline in Students' Reading Interest

Reading is one of the fundamental skills that is highly beneficial. This activity is not just for obtaining information, but also for gaining knowledge, sharpening critical thinking skills, and opening up a broader perspective of the world. We are aware that reading is vital to our lives; however, over time, with the development of technology, reading has become increasingly rare in today's era. The ease of accessing information has made students more reluctant to read.

Technological changes and lifestyle shifts in modern times have greatly influenced students' reading habits. Students would rather access videos than read, or they might ask AI (Artificial Intelligence) for answers and copy them as responses to questions or assignments given by their teachers. Many students spend their time on social media and gaming, which pushes reading activities aside. This phenomenon is alarming because a lack of reading habits leads to weak comprehension of information, poor data analysis, and diminished critical thinking skills.

This writing will discuss several factors contributing to the decline in students' reading interest.

1. Influence of Technology and Digital Media

The first and most influential factor is the impact of technology and digital media. Advanced technology has made students more comfortable and provided them with easier ways to access information without having to read. This phenomenon is deeply concerning for our younger generation. With a decline in reading interest, student quality could also diminish. Research conducted by Anderson and Rainie (2020) found that the increasing use of digital technology, especially devices like smartphones and tablets, has significantly reduced reading interest among students. They spend more time on social media, playing online games, or watching videos rather than reading books. Digital activities offer instant gratification and quick interactions, which lead students to avoid activities requiring deep concentration, such as reading books.

2. Changing Lifestyles and Student Preferences

Changes in lifestyle are also a significant factor in the decline of students' reading interest. In today's world, everything is readily available and easy to access, including reading articles. However, despite these resources, students now prefer watching TikTok and YouTube. According to a study by the National Literacy Trust (2019), there has been a shift in students' preferences towards instant and visual entertainment. Today's students tend to favor fast-paced, dynamic media, such as short YouTube videos or TikTok content, over reading long texts. This lifestyle shift makes reading seem time-consuming and less appealing compared to digital entertainment.

3. Lack of Access to Interesting and Relevant Books

Research also shows that access to relevant and engaging reading materials greatly influences reading interest. When students don't find materials that align with their interests or age group, their motivation to read decreases. Books used in schools are often seen as uninteresting or not aligned with current trends or student needs, leading to boredom. This is supported by findings from UNESCO, which highlight the importance of updating reading material collections in schools and libraries to make them more engaging for students. UNESCO's 2018 research emphasized that access to appealing and relevant reading materials plays a crucial role in motivating students to read. When school or library reading materials don't match students' interests or needs, they tend to lose interest in reading. In this study, many students reported that the available materials did not follow modern trends or were not relevant to their daily lives, causing them to prefer digital content for entertainment and information.

4. The Influence of Family and School Environments

Environmental factors, both at home and at school, play a significant role in shaping reading habits. If a culture of reading is cultivated in the home, it is more likely that younger generations will develop strong reading skills and hobbies. Research conducted by Clark and Teravainen-Goff (2018) from the National Literacy Trust shows that the family environment strongly influences students' reading habits. Children raised in families with a strong reading culture, where parents actively read or encourage reading, tend to have higher reading interest. Conversely, students from environments that do not support reading, both at home and in school, show lower reading interest.

From the factors above, we can conclude that while technology offers many advantages, it can also pose a threat to important habits like reading.