I could read right now, but instead I'm on my nth round of the Hacker News front page. Reading competes against instant gratification, and it doesn't win as often as I'd like it to. Reading requires discipline when scrolling is an option.
If this fact began in the last decade, I'd agree with you, but the linked Scholastic report shows this phenomenon pre-dates phones. Interest in reading at different ages has held steady dating back to at least 2010. 2010 is before most kids had their own smartphone. It also isn't like all kids suddenly get a smartphone at age 9.
Sort of. I think and exchange ideas, but I also scavenge mindlessly. I skim the comments, content myself with headlines. It's a far departure from sitting down with a single topic for a while.
I could read right now, but instead I'm on my nth round of the Hacker News front page. Reading competes against instant gratification, and it doesn't win as often as I'd like it to. Reading requires discipline when scrolling is an option.