I come from a family of readers. Books have been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember. They have been a refuge in times when I needed strength, and a welcome distraction from the everyday stressors of life. They are a second home that I still cherish today.
Considering this, it’s probably not surprising that I am extremely concerned about the literacy crisis. I’ve been seeing video after video of school teachers in distress over the reading comprehension and writing skills of their students. To me, their fear is justified. According to a report by Life Literacy Canada (LLC), 49 per cent of adult Canadians are below a high school literacy level and 51 per cent scored in the lowest three of five skill levels for numeracy. LLC notes that low literacy levels can negatively impact a person’s quality of life, both at home and in the workplace.
I have seen people point to phones and social media as the main contributor to this crisis. There is some validity to this. A study published in March of this year by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that increased social media use correlates to a lowered attention span in children. Although they note that these signs of inattention aren’t significant on an individual level, they warn that its effect at a cultural-level could be significant.
While I do agree that the impacts of social media use can be a major factor in the literacy crisis, I think there’s more to it than simply “phones bad.” When talking with some friends about the subject, there was a recurring theme that I noticed. A lot of them mentioned price accessibility being a major factor for why they struggle to read, or have stopped reading altogether. To add insult to injury, one of the few cheaper options for reading is being stripped from us. ReaderLink, one of the last companies that produced mass-market paperbacks in North America, have discontinued their “pocket books” which were designed with affordability in mind.
While social media does present a number of issues that could be contributing to the literacy crisis, I wonder if it is also the solution.
This is where these platforms, and my love-hate relationship with content creators comes into play. I have seen an increase in book-related, or “bookish” content online. These creators post everything from book reviews to footage of home libraries. While I do think that it’s an overall net-positive that people are using online spaces to get others interested in reading, there is something I noticed that I think is worth mentioning.
A lot of this content does what online content does, and that is presenting an idealized version of reality — neat, colour-coded, bookshelves that seem to have more bookish-related merchandise than they do actual books. The only books many of them have on these manicured displays are expensive hard-covers and special editions. And while I don’t think there’s a problem with this per se, it seems that some of these influencers treat reading as a commodity — which I worry will discourage people from reading altogether if reality isn’t as perfect as the post, or they can’t financially keep up with every new book.
Regardless of my minor critiques of bookish content, if it gets people interested in reading when literacy is at a low, then it is a positive help. At a time like this I wonder, should I really be gatekeeping and disparaging some of the few people out there that are encouraging a love of reading? Social media has been so ingrained in our everyday lives, and I don’t see it going away — so why not use it to our advantage?
In that case, post about reading to your heart’s content! Make videos about your collections, special editions, and home libraries. What would I suggest for people who love reading but can’t afford every new novel? Your local library! And I’m not just saying this because I’m a part of the Library and Information Technology (LIBIT) program. Public libraries are not only free, but most modern library cards now connect to apps like Libby or Hoopla. There you can access your local branch’s books and audiobooks online completely for free! No ads or hidden fees, just you and your newest read or listen!
