Young people, screens and reading

Does the increasingly connected lives of children, teenagers and young adults, and the ever-increasing amount of time spent on screens, spell the end of time spent reading?

Two recent studies* provide interesting insights into this topic:

• 13- to 19-year-olds own on average 2.9 personal screens. The Smartphones remain the preferred personal device for teenagers. ; 89% of 13-19 year olds own one, (+12 points/2016). A very sharp increase among 7-12 year olds (35% equipped in 2021).
• the screen time increases for all children surveyed, mainly to the benefit of the internet: videos on platforms streaming services, catch-up channels and SVOD platforms: Netflix leads the way (70% among those aged 13 and over), followed by Amazon Prime Video and Disney.
• Usage varies according to age: Children under 12 also use the Internet to watch television. live and tutorials, while Those over 13 years of age prioritise social use above all else.
• Despite this appetite for screens, children under 12  are more likely to regularly consult the youth press. The same trend can be seen among 1-6 year olds, 74% of whom read it.
• Among teenage screen addicts, the figure rises to 35%., and 32% among the largest consumers of screens.
• 7-25 year olds spend six times more time on the internet than reading, Respondents reported reading books for 3 hours and 14 minutes per week and spending 2 hours and 50 minutes per day (or 19 hours and 50 minutes per week) on the internet.
• The screens can also encourage young people to read books. 31% of respondents stated that a film, television series, or cartoon had encouraged them to read the corresponding book.
• The appetite for screens is developing more and more new practices among young people: 40% of 7-25 year olds have already read an e-book, 58% have already listened to an audiobook or podcast.
• The screens are present even during playback time. when they read a book, 47% have another activity (37% sending messages, 27% accessing social media, etc.).
• Many young people still read, with 81% of 7-25 year olds reading for leisure and «personal enjoyment». But with a real dropout after 12 years: primary school pupils say they read «for personal enjoyment» An average of 8.4 books over the last three months, but among secondary school pupils the figure drops to 5.3 and 3.4 among sixth formers.

* Junior Connect study on media usage and consumption behaviour among young people under the age of 20 (Bayard/Milan/Unique Heritage Media/Ipsos)

Study: «Young French people and reading» National Book Centre (CNL)/Ipsos