George Lowe
English 151
Licastro
Online Reading: Helping or Hurting
As we grow up in a time of constant innovation, it is necessary to reflect on the changes that have occurred. With computers and phones being a part of everyday lives, we have adapted to reading information off of a screen. Although the internet is easily accessible, it can have hindering effects. The benefits of reading online, such as convenience and variety come at the price of your focus. Students in the digital era have a tougher time focusing on online articles than on hard back books. I understand that online reading is here to stay, but paper text should not vanish.
To begin, the real problem with online reading is the setting itself. Mass media clogs the internet and ultimately is hard to stay focused on one specific passage when you have several to choose from. Nicolas Carr, author of “Is Google Making Us Stupid”, describes how his “mind now expects to take in information the way the Net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles” (Carr 4). When going about reading on the internet I find myself skimming and analyzing rather than thinking critically. On the other hand, reading from a hard copy of text allows me to hone in on each word knowing that another source is not just a click away. Carr brings light to the issue when he portrays himself as once being “a scuba diver in the sea of words. Now I zip along the surface like a guy on a Jet Ski.” Today it seems that readers have developed a habit of reading one to two paragraphs then hopping to the next site at their convenience. This causes a huge disconnect from literature as a whole as deep reading through novels becomes obsolete. In addition to the Internet’s vast sources, other distractors are just one click away. Carr also illustrates how “hyperlinks, blinking ads, and other digital gewgaws…surrounds the content with the content of all the other media it has absorbed.” These side bars diffuse focus and create the change we see unfolding. A constant need for the next new topic drives us to continue to use the internet but distracts us from a true connection to the text. Overall, the Internet has shifted the way we learn due to constant flow of information and aimless side distractions. As we lean toward a different outlet for literature it is important to limit the skimming and scanning that we do, to further our deep minds.
Additionally, we need to consider the changes that arise from reading on a screen rather than paper. More importantly, Ferris Jabar, author of “The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: The Science of Paper versus Screens” asks “How do our brains respond differently to onscreen text than to words on paper?” (Jabar). The answer is that E-reading does not have the same appeal as paper text leading to lack of comprehension. Jabar recalls a studies from polls and consumer reports show that “navigational difficulties may subtly inhibit reading comprehension.” (Jabar) In retrospect, paper books are tangible and clearly defined with borders, as you know where the book begins and ends. Also, the turning of pages leaves a satisfaction of progress as you witness the book getting closer to the end. Jabar raises another good point when he states how “most screens, e-readers, smartphone, and tablets interfere with intuitive navigation of text and inhibit people from mapping the journey in their minds” (Jabar). Digital reading outlets can online provide one virtual page of content, intangible and lifeless. A study at the University of Stavanger in Norway tested students see if reading and navigating on a screen really impacts your comprehension. The results showed that students who read from a pdf file struggled with finding important information as they alluded to the text. Ultimately, navigating a book comes easier to the consumers of the text and continues to harness a particular appeal when it comes to learning.
Nicolas Carr stressed upon the constant lack of focus that comes with online reading and that is true for so many millennials. When I reflect on my own experiences with online reading, I have found that I can never retain the information because I am constantly distracted. If I am reading on my laptop I find that the notifications, such as email, Facebook or even software updates, draw my attention away from the content. In addition, when I use my phone to read up on sports or politics, I am easily grabbed in by a text message or an Instagram like. Additionally, the eye fatigue that comes with a screen is tough to bare after reading for a while. Although I have become accustomed to reading online, I feel it is easiest for me to learn through paper text. When I discover an interesting subject in a textbook or novel I can maintain my focus and its deration, allowing me to thoroughly understand what I am reading. Due to my experiences, I feel that online reading is not good enough. If you want to genuinely comprehend a topic, a real book would be your best bet.
From hieroglyphics to paperbacks and now computers, the way we read has been evolving for years. Learning from history we can duct that change will follow suit when something new arrives. It is important to continue to read deep and think deeper as we face a time of disconnection. Who knows if a textbook will even be found in grade schools’ years from now. Overall, the importance of paper text from a learning perspective is tremendous and rapid advancement in technology should only draw us closer to our tangible, enlightening paper back.