How Digital Technology is Changing Our Reading Habits?

Digital technologies have brought a profound transformation to our reading habits as well as every aspect of our lives. Altınbaş University conducted a comprehensive study on this process. Altınbaş University Dr. Faculty Member Serdar Ay, who conducted the study, shared the changes brought by digitalization and the effects of these changes on our reading behaviors.

Today, the introduction of digital technology into every aspect of our lives radically transforms our habits. The widespread use of digital tools in many areas from music to education, from daily life to the business world, deeply affects our reading habits. With the study conducted by Altınbaş University, it was emphasized that digitalization is an inevitable process and leads to radical changes in our reading habits.

Transition from printed media to digital platforms, but still not the same experience and enjoyment

Sharing the details of the study on the subject, Serdar Ay, continued his speech by stating that as access to information accelerates thanks to digital devices, a significant decrease in the use of printed materials is observed:

“According to Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) data, the number of newspapers and magazines in Türkiye decreased by 9.2 percent to 4,048 in 2022. In the same period, total circulation decreased by 8.3 percent to 848 million 365 thousand 241. This decline clearly shows that print media is increasingly being replaced by digital platforms. Interestingly, however, this data does not fully apply to printed books. According to our research, printed books are still more preferred than electronic books. So, despite the rise of digitization, the physical/mental benefits and enjoyment of printed books remain valuable.”

Advantages of screen reading

Stating that they also evaluated the advantages of reading from the screen within the scope of their studies, Doctoral Faculty Member Serdar Ay said, “While the popularity of digital reading is increasing, there are many differences between screen and print reading. Digital platforms increase the speed of access to information. Readers can access the information they want more quickly and easily thanks to search engines. For example, without turning the pages of a printed book, they can instantly access the information they are looking for in a book of hundreds of pages with just a few buttons. The impact on the environment is another important issue. As the use of paper decreases with the widespread use of digital books, tree cutting is prevented and the environment is less harmed. Thus, digitalization directly provides advantages in terms of environmental sustainability.”

The global audiobook market is projected to reach 33.59 billion dollars in 2030

Stating that the audiobooks that emerged in this process offer practical solutions not only for visually impaired individuals but also for anyone who wants to save time, Serdar Ay said, “Listening to books while doing sports or traveling is one of the innovative benefits offered by digital technology. Moreover, the audiobook market is growing rapidly worldwide. According to estimates, the global audiobook market is expected to reach 33.59 billion dollars in 2030. This growth makes a significant contribution to the diversification of digital reading habits.”

Comprehension performance and sleep patterns

The research also reveals that reading on screen and reading from a printed book offer different advantages and disadvantages. Serdar Ay pointed out that reading from a screen can negatively affect comprehension performance due to distractions (such as advertisements, e-mail alerts) and said, “For example, according to the results of a meta-analysis of 38 different studies published by Clinton in 2019, it was suggested that reading from printed books provides better comprehension and higher efficiency than reading from a screen. On the other hand, a study conducted by Yaman and Dağtaş in 2013 suggests that reading from the screen does not negatively affect students' reading comprehension performance, but that reading from the screen is more complex in long and difficult texts. Especially the scrolling dynamics of the screen can make it difficult to establish relationships between texts and interrupt the reading process”.

Stating that the negative effects of blue light emitted from screens on sleep patterns have been observed, Ay said, “Experiments have shown that blue light disrupts the biological clock by suppressing the melatonin level that improves sleep quality and makes it difficult to fall asleep. This shows that reading on the screen a few hours before bedtime has negative effects not only on mental performance but also on body health.”

Generation Z and the digital future: Digitalization is inevitable, but printed books are still important

Finally, it is predicted that Generation Z, who grew up with smartphones and tablets in their hands, will largely shift their reading habits to digital platforms. Prof. Dr. Ay said, “Digitalization, which offers many benefits, is inevitable. However, even though digital platforms accelerate access to information, the unique experiences offered by printed books still retain their value. It is very clear that the pleasure of the smell of a book cannot be obtained from screens.”