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By Derek Duckworth
- December 13, 2025
- 0 Comments
- Blog
How Reading More Made Us Worse Readers: Inside a 63-Country Study on Chatting and Literacy
We spend hours every day reading — messages, posts, notifications, and chats. It should make us better at reading, right? But new data from 63 countries says the opposite. Between 2009 and 2018, the more a country's teens chatted online, the lower their national reading scores fell.
Discover The FindingsThe Study That Shocked Educators: 63 Countries, Half a Million Teenagers, and One Surprising Correlation
In 2021, researcher Hans Luyten published findings in Studies in Educational Evaluation that sent ripples through the education community. Using data from the global PISA tests (which measure how well 15-year-olds read, write, and solve problems), the study tracked changes from 2009 to 2018 across 63 countries.
The findings were striking:
Online Chatting Surged
Online chatting rose in almost every country (by about 39% on average).
Literacy Scores Declined
Reading literacy scores fell overall - by roughly 25 points on the PISA scale (a quarter of a standard deviation).
Fast Growth, Steep Drops
Countries like Japan and Indonesia, where chatting rose fastest, saw the steepest literacy drops.
Slow Growth, Stable Performance
Countries with slower growth in chatting - like Estonia or the U.S. - maintained or improved reading performance.
The most alarming conclusion: The rise of chatting explains almost all of the global decline in reading literacy between 2009 and 2018.
This wasn't just a minor correlation. The statistical relationship was powerful (r = -0.66), suggesting that for every significant increase in online chatting, there was a corresponding decrease in reading literacy scores.
But why would more reading - even in chat form - lead to worse reading skills?
Why More Chatting Doesn't Equal Better Reading: Reading Fast Isn't Reading Deep
At first glance, the findings seem paradoxical. Shouldn't more time spent reading text messages improve reading skills? The answer lies in how our brains process different types of text.
Chat Reading
- Short, fragmented messages
- Rapid-fire exchanges
- Frequent interruptions
- Simplified language and abbreviations
- Scanning for keywords
- Immediate responses expected
Deep Reading
- Extended, continuous text
- Sustained attention
- Focused concentration
- Complex language structures
- Analyzing for meaning and nuance
- Reflective processing
Nicholas Carr, author of "The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains" (2010), warned that digital media encourage "surface reading" : skimming for quick information rather than deep comprehension. Maryanne Wolf, in her 2018 book "Reader, Come Home," describes how our brains develop "circuit flexibility" that allows us to switch between different reading modes.
The problem? When everything you read is short, fast, and half-finished, your brain starts expecting all reading to feel that way.
The Luyten study found compelling evidence for this theory. Countries where awareness of reading strategies (like summarizing or reflecting) declined the most also saw the steepest literacy losses (correlation r = 0.70). This suggests it's not just what teens read : it's how they read that matters.
In countries where chatting became the dominant form of reading, students lost the ability to employ deeper reading strategies necessary for comprehending complex texts.
What the Data Really Means: Correlation Not Doom - But the Pattern Is Clear
It's important to clarify what the research does and doesn't say. The study doesn't claim that chatting directly causes bad reading skills in every individual. Many teens who chat frequently may still be excellent readers.
What it does show is that at the population level, heavy increases in chatting predict national declines in reading literacy. This is similar to how rising wealth correlates with rising obesity rates at the national level - not everyone who is wealthy becomes overweight, but the trends move together across populations.
"The findings show that developments in reading literacy levels of 15-year-olds across the world in the first two decades of the twenty-first century are clearly linked to the speed with which online chatting has spread."
Interestingly, math and science scores weren't affected in the same way. This strengthens the case that there's something specific about the relationship between chatting and reading comprehension.
The study divided countries into two groups:
Group 1: Late Adopters
Countries with low chatting prevalence in 2009 (<35% of teens chatting daily) but rapid growth afterward.
Examples:
- Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Mexico, Brazil
Result:
- Reading literacy improved during 2000-2009, then declined sharply during 2009-2018 as chatting accelerated.
Group 2: Early Adopters
Countries with high chatting prevalence in 2009 (>35% of teens chatting daily) but slower growth afterward.
Examples:
- Most European countries, Canada, United States, Australia
Result:
- Reading literacy stagnated during 2000-2009, then improved during 2009-2018 as chatting growth decelerated.
This pattern suggests that the rapid adoption of chatting, rather than chatting itself, may be the critical factor. When societies experience sudden shifts in reading habits, literacy skills suffer until education systems and individuals adapt.
What's Actually Happening in the Brain: From Deep Focus to Skim Mode
The science behind these findings involves neuroplasticity : our brain's ability to rewire itself based on repeated experiences. When we consistently engage in certain reading behaviors, our neural pathways strengthen in those specific patterns.
The Chat-Trained Brain
Constant exposure to bite-sized chat messages trains our brains to:
- Scan quickly rather than read thoroughly
- Jump between topics frequently
- Seek immediate information gratification
- Process text in isolated fragments
- Prioritize speed over comprehension
The Deep Reading Brain
Traditional reading, especially of longer texts like books, trains our brains to:
- Sustain attention over extended periods
- Connect ideas across paragraphs and chapters
- Infer meaning beyond what's explicitly stated
- Engage in critical analysis and evaluation
- Build mental models of complex concepts
"The digital culture's reinforcement of rapid attentional shifts and multiple sources of distraction can short-circuit the development of the slower, more cognitively demanding comprehension processes that go into the formation of deep reading."
"We are not only what we read. We are how we read."
The brain's reading circuits are not fixed at birth but develop based on what we read and how we read it. The concern is that as chatting becomes the dominant form of reading, especially during critical developmental years, teens may not fully develop the neural pathways needed for deep reading.
This doesn't mean all digital reading is harmful. Research shows that different types of digital reading have different effects. For example, reading longer-form digital articles can still engage deep reading circuits. It's specifically the rapid, fragmented nature of chat exchanges that appears problematic for literacy development.
Solutions : How to Keep Our Deep Reading Skills Alive
The good news is that we don't have to choose between digital communication and strong literacy skills. The research suggests several approaches to maintain deep reading abilities in a chat-heavy world.
For Schools and Teachers
Reading Strategy Instruction
- Explicitly teach summarizing, questioning, and predicting
- Model deep reading processes through think-alouds
- Provide structured reading guides for complex texts
- Teach students to recognize when to shift between reading modes
Balanced Reading Approach
- Blend digital and print reading experiences
- Assign both short and extended reading tasks
- Create discussion activities that require deep text analysis
- Use technology to enhance rather than replace traditional reading
Research shows that explicitly teaching reading strategies can offset the negative effects of fragmented reading habits. When students learn to consciously shift between different reading modes, they maintain the ability to engage in deep reading when needed.
For Parents and Teens
Create "Slow Reading" Habits
- Establish daily device-free reading time
- Model sustained reading behavior
- Discuss books and articles as a family
- Visit libraries and bookstores regularly
Use Chat Apps Thoughtfully
- Challenge teens to write more complete messages
- Use chat for meaningful discussions, not just reactions
- Share and discuss articles through messaging apps
- Set boundaries around chat time
Personal Deep Reading Challenge
Try the 20-Minute Deep Reading Challenge:
- Set aside 20 minutes daily for distraction-free reading
- Choose material that requires concentration
- Turn off all notifications and put devices in another room
- Read continuously without interruption
- After reading, take a few minutes to reflect or write about what you read
Gradually increase your deep reading time as your focus improves.
Many readers report that after just two weeks of daily deep reading practice, they notice improvements in concentration, comprehension, and reading enjoyment. The brain's reading circuits remain plastic throughout life, meaning we can strengthen deep reading skills at any age.
"We need to cultivate a new kind of brain: a 'bi-literate' reading brain capable of the deepest forms of thought in either digital or traditional mediums."
The goal isn't to abandon digital communication but to develop the ability to switch between different reading modes as needed : what researchers call "cognitive flexibility."
The Bigger Picture: A Global Trend That's Not Going Away
The shift toward digital communication continues to accelerate. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed even more of our reading online, while platforms like TikTok and Instagram further fragment our attention spans. AI chatbots now generate billions of words daily, changing how we interact with text.
But the research suggests we're at a critical inflection point. Countries that experienced rapid growth in online chatting and saw literacy declines are now adapting. Educational systems are evolving to address these challenges, and awareness of the importance of deep reading is growing.
What This Means for Different Groups
For Educators
The need to explicitly teach different reading modes and strategies has never been more important. Schools must prepare students for a world where both quick digital reading and deep analytical reading are essential skills.
For Parents
Creating environments that balance digital communication with sustained reading experiences helps children develop cognitive flexibility. Modeling healthy reading habits matters more than ever.
For Individuals
Being aware of how different reading modes affect our thinking allows us to make conscious choices about when to scan and when to deep read, preserving our capacity for complex thought.
The research doesn't suggest eliminating online chatting : it's a valuable communication tool that's here to stay. Rather, it highlights the need to complement chat-based reading with experiences that develop and maintain deep reading circuits.
"Online chatting made the world talk more - but if we lose the ability to read deeply, we'll stop truly understanding one another."
As we move forward, the countries that succeed will likely be those that find ways to embrace digital communication while preserving the deep reading skills that foster critical thinking, empathy, and innovation.
Conclusion: Finding Balance in a Digital Reading World
The relationship between online chatting and reading literacy presents a complex challenge for our digital age. The research is clear: as online chatting increased rapidly across countries, reading literacy scores declined. But this doesn't mean we should abandon digital communication.
Instead, the findings point to the need for balance and awareness. Understanding how different types of reading affect our brains allows us to make conscious choices about our reading habits. By deliberately practicing deep reading alongside our digital communications, we can develop the cognitive flexibility needed for success in today's world.
The countries that initially experienced literacy declines as chatting increased are now adapting. Educational systems are evolving, and new approaches to literacy development are emerging. This suggests that with awareness and intention, we can harness the benefits of digital communication while preserving the deep reading skills that foster critical thinking, empathy, and innovation.
The future of reading isn't either/or - it's both/and. By embracing this balanced approach, we can ensure that the next generation develops the full spectrum of reading abilities needed to thrive in an increasingly complex world.
References and Further Reading
- Luyten, H. (2021). The global rise of online chatting and its adverse effect on reading literacy. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 72, 1-7.
- Carr, N. (2010). The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains. W.W. Norton & Company.
- Wolf, M. (2018). Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World. Harper Collins.
- OECD. (2019). PISA 2018 Results: Where All Students Can Succeed. OECD Publishing.
- Luyten, H. (2023). Spread of Online Chatting and Global Developments in Reading Literacy during 2000–2018. In Advanced Virtual Assistants - A Window to the Virtual Future. IntechOpen.
- Hofferth, S. L., & Moon, U. J. (2012). Cell Phone Use and Child and Adolescent Reading Proficiency. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 1(2), 108-122.
- van Bergen, E., Hart, S. A., Latvala, A., Vuoksimaa, E., Tolvanen, A., & Torppa, M. (2022). Literacy skills seem to fuel literacy enjoyment, rather than vice versa. Developmental Science, 26(3), e13325.
