Is Reading Dying

In about 2010, I was added to a team redesigning the company website. During the conversation with the creative agency, the project lead explained we should consider the web’s upcoming “pivot to video” and integrate more video content on the site.

That meeting was well before video-first social platforms became popular, but I think about that “pivot to video” comment often. Ultimately, we didn’t build videos into the site due to not having the infrastructure to edit and host them, but the project lead’s prediction would prove correct.

A video-first web became the big hit of the late ‘10s and early ‘20s internet. Today, TikTok and Instagram Reels capture attention spans while YouTube video “essays” drive engagement. While video has become immensely popular, I wonder if it came at a cost.

Reading is on a significant decline.

A recent study of American adults revealed that nearly half have not read a book in over a year. Further, more than half of American adults read below a sixth-grade level. As someone who writes on the internet and who values written words, these statistics are highly problematic.

The benefits of reading are well-documented, but technology companies have determined that it is too time-consuming for users. Why read something when you can watch a video? I won’t bother getting into how these time-saving videos are easier to integrate with ads and drive further monetization by selling products. Maybe the tech companies don’t actually have our time management at heart...

Anyway, the rise of AI has set its eyes on continuing to reduce reading times. AI summaries are everywhere and very much feel like the latest “pivot to video” online. Even the Wall Street Journal is getting into the AI summary game. Why bother to read a complete article when you can just read the summary?

Human attention spans are declining. The American Psychological Association says the average adult has about a 47-second attention span. That’s not very long, but it makes sense in a pivot to video, AI-summary world.

Where does this trend end? Let’s take this thought to its natural conclusion: writing goes away. Who will write a whole article when people will only read the bullet points? Why not just write those bullets instead?

Axios writes news articles in bullet point format. They highlight the main points so readers get to the point quickly. In some ways, this is refreshing and a new take on news. In others, it’s an indictment of our current predicament. Axios doesn’t need AI summaries because it already writes attention-span-friendly articles.

The internet never needed a pivot to video. The web is big enough for all methods of expression. Instead, those who control the web decided that we needed video at the expense of fundamental reading and writing skills. Not only are videos easier to monetize, but a public that doesn’t read is a public that’s easier to control.

Reading is an essential skill that we must preserve at all costs. This holiday season, consider giving the gift of words to the people in your life. Books never go out of style and unlock entire worlds of possibilities. By encouraging reading, we can start to turn those statistics around. Let’s make reading popular again.

Hope is Divisive

Two weeks ago, I wrote that the Empire Strikes Back isn’t the end of the story. I explored my post-election feelings and focused on hope, one of my core beliefs.

The newsletter led to some of the most email replies I’ve ever had. Not only was I called “delusional,” but I also lost 9% of my paid subscribers. Which, yikes.

All writing is influenced by the writer’s experiences, beliefs, and worldview. While I strive to be transparent, I owe it to my readers to outline my beliefs.

As a result, I’ve updated my About Page with a statement on my worldview. In addition to my views on creativity and technology, it has this potentially divisive statement on hope:

I believe that hope is more powerful than fear and community is more powerful than individualism. While all should have the ability to express their opinions, I believe that hateful views should incur consequences and be called out for what they are.

Hope is a powerful feeling that inspires creativity. It fuels mine and creates space for others. But, then agian, what do I know? I’m just delusional.