(NewsNation) — Reading is increasingly taking a backseat in the lives of Americans, according to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A recent survey examining how people spent their time in 2024 found that on an average day, Americans 75 and older spent 46 minutes reading, while those aged 15 to 19 read for 9 minutes.
The results marked the latest chapter of a gradual downward trend that government agencies and polling platforms have been documenting for more than 20 years.
Books are competing with the myriad content available at our fingertips. Digital distractions — from smartphones to social media — offer quick, bite-size amusement that doesn’t require the focus needed to get through a novel.
Gaming and streaming have become increasingly popular forms of entertainment, especially among teens. The survey found that on an average day, Americans aged 15 to 19 spent 1.3 hours playing games or using a computer for leisure, while those 75 and older spent 26 minutes doing so.
ProLiteracy, a nonprofit based in Syracuse, New York, works to improve adult literacy worldwide. According to its 2024 annual impact report, 48 million adults in the United States read at or below a third-grade level.
The National Center for Education Statistics recently found that a pandemic-era decline in reading levels among fourth and eighth graders continued in 2024.