The death of reading

The Global Story podcast features an interview with James Marriott, an opinion columnist at The Times of London, discussing his essay on the dawn of a post-literate society. Marriott argues that reading has significantly declined, especially since the advent of smartphones, leading to a shift from print-based communication to oral and visual forms. This shift, he contends, has implications for democracy, as it diminishes access to reliable information and favors emotional appeals over logical reasoning. While acknowledging the internet's role in democratizing access to information, Marriott suggests that it has also led to the spread of misinformation and the control of information flow by algorithms prioritizing engagement over accuracy. He advocates for a conscious effort to reduce reliance on smartphones and promote reading to preserve critical thinking and informed democratic participation.