Sustained throughout the centuries, books have been a classic form of entertainment since immemorial. However, as humanity reaches the modern age, society has latched onto digital devices as the dominant force for our entertainment. Consequently, many are left to abandon books as a whole. As technology continues to grow in influence worldwide, people are left with a question: What are the roles of books in the digital age?
Books are mediums capable of providing insight into various topics, from theological issues to adventure novels, and self-help books. Despite this, the technological boom of modern society caused a major decline in readers, with the Pew Research Center explaining that up to half of the adult American population reads only one book a day. With various forms of media such as TikTok, YouTube, and ebooks, some individuals argue that online tools serve as informative and entertaining resources that provide the same eye-opening experience in shorter amounts of time. Conversely, others believe that books sculpt adventures and provide deeper, more meaningful descriptions of topics than other entertainment mediums.
Avid book reader Trevor Lam (12) commented that books held a “special vintage feeling, a quality that couldn’t compete with an informational video or an audiobook.” As social media and other entertainment platforms often possess bothersome notifications, Lam found it easier to concentrate on reading without cumbersome ringing intruding on his leisure time. “With all of the notifications and experiences in my phone, I end up getting distracted. . . I feel like books are a great way to pass the time without these distractions.”
Lam isn’t alone in these observations, with the Pew Research Center finding that 73% of adults prefer print books for leisure reading comparably to ebooks. With the rise of the digital age, 63% of individuals have begun reading physical books to relieve the overwhelming doses of dopamine from screens. “Even if we have all of these sources of entertainment online, I feel like books are still a strong staple in society today,” Lam explains.
Though Lam may enjoy reading, others believe that books are arcane tools that are quickly being replaced by several technological mediums— “outdated,” as according to Kyle Cho (11). “With the rise of films and informational videos online, it feels unnecessary to pick up a book,” Cho shifted uneasily. He added that “entertainment had evolved to provide visual representations of the content we consume, and I feel like it gives our information more meaning.” Some individuals believe that digital videos and images could provide visual stimulation to replace the imaginative perspective within books, bringing a fantasy scenario to life. “I think, if technology improves on the forms of entertainment provided within books, I don’t know why we wouldn’t follow societal advancement.”.
While books are seen as a staple form of entertainment within society, the introduction of the digital age has questioned its necessity for the world today. Despite societal transitions to social media, it’s undeniable that books have continued to resurface as a continual source of entertainment within modern society. With the large array of entertainment provided for society today, we are not forced to indulge in a specific medium. For each preference, there will always be a niche for classical books in modern society. Regardless of technology’s progress, a book serves as a timeless form of entertainment that will continue to stand the test of time.
