Is Reading Dying? (Replies Needed)

I see that question got your attention. Good. I need your help.

I have been looking in all the usual places for credible data to back up a gut feeling we probably all share:

Reading is on the decline.

Because if it is, it’s time to rethink text in exhibitions. That’s especially true for history, natural history, and visitor centers. But art, science, and children’s venues aren’t immune.

Data-wise, I haven’t found a smoking gun. What I can find implies that the gut feeling isn’t wrong.

Some studies suggest that older generations still read long fiction, but younger generations have … stopped.

Some say reading will never die — we’ll just read shorter and shorter bits as open captions in social media videos.

Some enthusiastically deny the whole thing. Especially book publishers.

That’s where you come in.

Here’s the thing:
I need your help.

Do you know of any article or study, that would help define or dispute the decline of reading? If you do, or even if you just have an opinion or story, I’d love to hear it, and maybe even publish some responses in an upcoming article.

Best of all, it’s easy: just hit reply and LMK!

Warmly,
Jonathan

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MtM Word of the Day:
Reading rate, or reading speed. The rate at which a person can comfortably read and understand text, in words per minute (WPM). Average adult reading speed is 200 WPM or higher under ideal conditions. However, reading speed can drop to under 100 WPM for children, non-native speakers, those with impairments — and anyone especially intent on comprehending a text. (An MtM main article is 200 words or less, and can be read in one minute or less. This deliberately long MtM Word of the Day entry is exactly 100 words, adding 30 seconds to the overall reading time of this article.)