Survey in and around Kolkata shows most students in 17-24 age group read books only occasionally

While the book fair continues in Kolkata, more than 25 lakh visitors are likely to be recorded as usual, a recent survey in and around Kolkata showed that most students read books only occasionally and spend more than two hours on social media.

According to the study conducted by Kolkata-based Sabar Institute and Sarojini Naidu College for Women, 35 percent of students in the 17-24 age group read books only occasionally, while 25 percent read books every day. However, nearly 40% of those in the 10-17 age group read every day, and 30% read only occasionally. 40.6% of 25-34 year olds read books only occasionally, and only 18% read every day.

The research was conducted on 4,311 samples from urban and rural areas covering Kolkata and North 24 Parganas to understand reading habits in the reel age. Most respondents (50%) were in the 18-24 age group, 14% were in the 10-17 age group, and 31% were in the 25-34 age group.

According to the Sabar Institute, in the post-COVID-19, social media-driven world, attention spans were narrowing, especially among students, and the idea behind the survey was to explore this shift and understand the impact of social media on reading and, above all, bring reading back to the center of people’s lives.

According to the findings, more women in the 18-24 age group (over 40%) spend more than two hours a day on social media compared to men (36%). However, boys (33%) in the 10-17 age group were found to spend more than two hours on social media compared to girls (31%).

The survey also found that students are more likely to spend more time on social media than non-students. More than 35% of students surveyed spent more than two hours a day on the phone and about 32% spent between one and two hours, while the same figures for non-student respondents were 30% and 29%.

“Screen time has increased sharply in recent years, especially among young adults. School closures due to COVID moved education online and dealt a serious blow to reading habits. Our study shows that heavy social media use (more than two hours a day) and lack of easy access to books remain major barriers to reading,” said Sabir Ahamed of the Sabar Institute.

“The problem is not the lack of libraries in the city, but the lack of guided and inviting reading spaces. What young people need are curated spaces that introduce them to books, encourage in-depth reading and are supported to develop engaging reading habits,” said Mr. Ahamed, whose Know Your Neighbor initiative, which aims for social cohesion, recently launched the Reader’s Seat program to discuss books, encourage silent reading together and learn how to manage digital distractions. he said.

According to the research, students liked reading fiction, literature and poetry the most, while non-students preferred sports, entertainment and fiction. While most men studied sports, entertainment and fiction, women showed more interest in academics and literature.