'Digital screens eroding reading habits'

ISLAMABAD:

Renowned writer, critic, and poet Professor Ravish Nadim has expressed concerns about the negative effects of digital screens on reading habits and concentration.

Speaking on Sunday, he emphasised that reading fosters essential cognitive skills, allowing readers to visualise words and build mental landscapes. "Reading is a vital activity for nurturing healthy and active minds," Dr Ravish stated, adding that excessive reliance on screens hampers the depth and quality of reading.

He further observed that while developed countries have led the way in digital technology, they have also managed to preserve a strong reading culture, recognising that screens cannot replicate the immersive experience of reading books.

Dr Ravish also highlighted how social media has shortened attention spans, with users now favouring videos that last between one to three minutes, and preferring brief, digestible paragraphs over long-form reading.