Digital screen use linked to declining reading comprehension and attention

Experts are warning that constant exposure to digital stimuli, such as short videos, notifications, and rapid messaging, is altering reading habits and reducing attention spans across all age groups. Research indicates that the digital environment encourages fragmented attention, making it difficult to engage in deep reading of long or complex texts.

Ladislao Salmerón, a professor at the University of Valencia, has noted through meta-analysis that reading on paper offers a slight advantage in comprehension compared to digital devices, particularly under time pressure. Furthermore, psychologist Gloria Mark from the University of California observed a significant decline in digital focus: the average time a person stays concentrated on a screen dropped from approximately 2 minutes and 30 seconds in 2004 to just 47 seconds in 2021.

These shifts in cognitive habits are being linked to declining educational results, such as those seen in PISA testing. In Ecuador, for example, students recorded scores of 385 in reading comprehension, 366 in mathematics, and 393 in science.