Doomscrolling Ourselves to Death
The author reflects on the decline of reading among children and the rise of low-quality, addictive digital media. The piece discusses a new book by James Marriott that explores the societal implications of this shift toward a 'new dark age' of literacy.
Why it matters
The decline in deep reading and the rise of algorithmic entertainment are raising concerns about the long-term cognitive and cultural health of younger generations.
I’m not the only parent who feels increasingly anxious about their children’s media diet. For teenage boys in particular, entertainment often comes in the form of YouTube, which for any adult briefly glancing at the screen seems to feature an array of thumbnailed gawping imbeciles, besides an invitation to watch the latest work of creativity: ‘I took a bath full of Diet Coke and Mentos’ or ‘I cemented a microwave to my head’. In comparison to this, the mindless television I watched in the 1990s seems as narratively complex as Dostoevsky.
Most of all, it’s notable that many children aren’t reading anymore, and it ’s steadily become a topic of interest among fellow parents, then worry, and now panic. It’s impossible to ignore the fact that something quite bad is happening.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in