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Digital Reading Effects

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Reading is much different now than it has been before. Most reading is now done online. The two articles “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” by Nicholas Carr (2008) and “The Deep Space of Digital Reading” by Paul LaFarge (2016) talk about the different effects of digital reading and how it might change the way we read. Although we have very easy access to loads of information, there can be some negative effects to it. Both of the articles talk about how we tend to stop reading critically and are no longer able to concentrate while reading due to the constant distraction of ads and social media. With all of these changes and distractions when it comes to digital technology, are teenagers able to concentrate more than adults while using the internet? …show more content…

Carr argues that digital technology is causing us to lose concentration, not fully interpret what we read, and to lose the ability to read critically. He claims that the more he used the web, the more he is fighting to stay focused on any long piece of writing, even anything longer than a few paragraphs. LaFarge on the other hand talks about the effects of digital writing but also says that our minds have been wandering off all along, not just with digital reading. Hypertext has been believed to cause readers’ recall and comprehension skills to suffer, but LaFarge (2016) says that according to two studies, hypertext seems to improve comprehension skills. It is not only about comprehension, but pleasure as well. Reading something you enjoy causes our attention to be guided towards it and we tend to pay much more attention. When it comes to reading, it depends on what you put in. What you put in is what you will get out. After reading these two articles, I wondered who was able to concentrate more when it came to reading online, teens or …show more content…

People that were from 15 to 34 years old tend to read online more than in print, and people from 35 to 55+ years old tend to read just as much online as they do in print. I asked both age groups if they had a tough time navigating their way through the internet and overall they all do not. I also asked if they tend to get distracted easily while reading online and those that are 15 to 34 years old get easily distracted, and those that are from 35 to 55+ years old also have some difficulty focusing. Overall, both groups are able to navigate through the internet, but both have a tough time staying focused.
Digital technology has many effects on the way people read. Some being positive, and some being negative. Depending on the person and how often they are online, it could be improving their comprehension skills, or disengaging skills like comprehension and being able to read critically. Not only my survey, but studies as well, have shown that most people have a hard time focusing on the internet and being able to comprehend, regardless of their

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