Internet addiction and the habit of book reading (benwajdi.com)

Article summary

The article discusses the potential impact of internet addiction on the habit of reading, citing authors such as Jonathan Franzen and Philip Roth who have expressed concerns about the effects of technology on literature and reading. The author suggests that the internet can be a distraction and a hindrance to deep thinking and reading, but also acknowledges that it has made it possible for people to access a vast amount of information and connect with others. The article also touches on the idea that reading can be a source of pleasure and intellectual stimulation, and that it is possible to develop a healthier relationship with the internet and technology. The author reflects on their own experience of being deprived of access to the internet and finding that it allowed them to focus and think more deeply.

Main themes

• internet addiction
• reading habits
• technology and literacy
• deep thinking and comprehension
• balance between technology use and reading
• moral panics about new technologies
• changing nature of text and information consumption

What commenters say

• Some commenters argue that the internet has not eroded reading habits, but rather changed the way people consume text, with many reading more than ever before, albeit in different formats.
• Others contend that the internet's addictive nature and endless distractions can lead to a decline in deep thinking and reading comprehension.
• A few commenters suggest that the issue is not the internet itself, but rather how people choose to use it, and that it is possible to develop a healthy balance between technology use and reading.
• Some argue that moral panics about new technologies, including the internet, are often unfounded and that people will adapt to new norms, while others believe that the internet poses a unique threat to literacy and deep thinking.
• There is disagreement about whether reading on the internet is equivalent to reading books, with some arguing that the former can be just as engaging and intellectually stimulating as the latter, while others believe that books offer a unique and more immersive reading experience.
• A few commenters point out that data suggests that younger generations are actually reading more books than older generations, contradicting the idea that the internet is leading to a decline in reading.
• Some commenters believe that the structure of text on the internet, which is often non-linear and highly referential, is changing the way people think about reality and process information.