Do today's teens read less or more?

[mmandy38]

I definitely think that teens (and younger kids) do not read as much as they have in the past.

[Ck89reader]

I think that teens do not read as much but not far too less. It just matters what medium they use, whether ebooks, books or online reading. I do believe that technoloy plays a role in the fact that they read less physical books. I

[Bluedonutcentral]

I think that with all the influences on youtube teens may read more, I mean the technology thing is true but almost every movie or tv show even games has a book adaption, with the knowledge that one could read more about their favorite tv show,movie or game because of this teens may read more.

[Aprops333]

I am a teen that loves to read, but I find that there are many distractions that keep me from reading; such as that new T.V. show I'm watching or the essay that's due next week. During high school I read loads of books, but now that I'm getting older it's harder to read, because I have more responsibilities. I think that teens have more time to read than higher age groups. The ones that love to read will find a way to get their hands on a book. However there are people that hate reading. Now that people can occupy their time with television and Facebook or going out with friends; teens that read will be less than before. Despite all of that, I still see a lot of teens reading.

[csimmons032]

I would probably say less interested, but I am not positive on that one. There are so many sports, video games, and other online activities that teenagers involve themselves in rather than reading. However, I always preferred reading instead of these activities. So I guess it might just depend on the teenager. If they have family members who read a lot, then they might read more as well.

[meg-reads]

As an avid reader, this is such a difficult question for me to answer. I myself read a minimum of thirty books a year. I have a book blog with over 400 avid readers like myself who are mostly young adults and teens. I also teach piano, though, and I never see my young students reading (children). My two female teenage students do read a lot, though. Perhaps reading is not encouraged in the home anymore (young children by their parents) and thus children must discover reading on their own as they get a bit older and are able to maybe use their own money to buy a book or go to the library on their own.

[shubygurl84]

I think they read less. They have so many more distractions compared to when I was a child. Much more compared to when my mother was a child. They have too many electronics and too much access to the internet. You could barely get the last generation to write in a journal and now every generation, moms and gmas are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. everyday just to read and write in open journals. I just don't think there's as much reading going on with so much socializing.

[SparklingOne]

I think it really depends on the kid. A couple of my nieces and nephews are voracious readers. Whether its from a paper book, a cell phone, reader or a computer the vehicle isn't what matters its the fact they are reading. I think they spend less visible time doing it, so people think they read less.

[AMarshC]

I think teens read less today because it is easier to pick up a video game or watch tv. Welcome to the lazy era!!

[jackblack360]

Teens these days read less, especially boys. But i think sappy romance novels will always appeal to girls, no matter what generation.

[SatsukiNoKimi]

I'd have to say, I'm in highschool and in my class of 25 there is only 6 people who enjoy reading and that's including me. Its pretty sad. This generation doesn't really read. Its all electronics.

[kitfox32]

Depends whether you mean reading books or just reading. I think overall, we live in a more text-based world than ever, and certainly since the advent of the telephone. Kids spend ages texting and reading websites like Tumblr-- which often contain full-fledged essays and stories. They also seem to read a decent number of books, in addition to their Internet and TV habits. I think we're entering the advent of a new kind of storytelling, which will have repercussions as dramatic as those of the invention of the printing press--- something that was an enormous factor in the explosion of creativity we saw in the Renaissance.

[CloudedRune]

In my opinion, many people are far too quick to generalize teenagers as this one entity (that is usually presented in a very negative light) rather than a diverse group of people of similar ages, who all have different experiences and personalities, just like people of all ages.

I know many teenagers who read a lot and many who don't. I know teenagers who read novels, poetry, fanfiction, graphic novels, short stories, webcomics; a mixture of some or all of these. (I also think that the whole idea about graphic novels/fanfiction/etc not being 'proper' reading material is ridiculous. They are all valid forms of writing and storytelling. Not enjoying/understanding the appeal of them is fine, but dismissing them as not 'real' reading material and mocking people who do enjoy them is not.)

And honestly, from my own experience as an 18 year old and interactions with classmates, friends from other places etc, a lot of teenagers are too busy/stressed etc to have time to read as much as they want to. I loved reading as a child and up until I was about 14, I continued to read a lot. After this, school and studying for exams started to cut into my reading time more and more until I hardly had any time for anything else other than lessons, studying, eating and sleeping (one year I had 17 exams to study for, most of them in the same month!) - pretty much the only regular time I had for reading was when I would travel to and from school and most days I was too burned out from everything else going on to properly concentrate and read. I am finished with the majority of my exams now so I've had more time to read in the last half a year or so and am slowly returning to reading as much as I used to.

I also think that many are unfairly critical of teenagers (people in general, but especially about teenagers) who do not like to read, full stop. I've never understood being judgmental about other people's interests because they don't match up with one's own - mocking and looking down upon people who find enjoyment in different activities is pretty awful.

I suppose I'm quite defensive of teenagers xD For reasons that I feel are valid.

[whitt888]

Unfortunately I'd have to say they read less when it comes to books anyways.

[Mjelmer]

I believe they read less....way too many electronics!