Do you read?

I mean really. When was the last time you recreationally read a non-school-assigned non-fiction book? A biography? A book older than you? What about a news article?

Yesterday, my dad sent me a Harvard Health article about how Benadryl could be linked to dementia. Under the article, he texted me, “STOP TAKING BENADRYL.” It was a fine article. Very well written.

I got through the first paragraph.

Actually, I didn’t. I just read the bolded headlines.

As I went to click the x button, I got déjà vu. How many times have I just quit reading something because I didn’t have the attention span? Or it just wasn’t stimulating enough? I mean you’d think dementia would raise the stakes but, hey, we all die one day.

I click the x button.

Why is it that the most fulfilling books I’ve ever read have been school assignments? Books that, while, yes, at times, I had to trudge through to meet my page quota, ultimately proved to be beautiful and rewarding. Such as “Lord of the Flies”, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” and “Educated” by Tara Westover. The brain power required to get through “The Scarlet Letter” made my mind feel like it was running the Boston Marathon, but still, such a cool piece of history! It fills me with a sense of pride to finish a book. Turning the last page and realizing that even though it was hard, I learned something. I’m now smarter! I read something of substance and spent my time noton my phone!

So why can’t I get through a tiny article about the importance of what literal toxins I shouldn’t be putting in my body? Am I really that lazy?

What distinguishes me from my mom, who reads a new book every week? She and I are both smart, motivated, worldly women. No … lazy isn’t what it is.

Then what is it?

Is it really that damn phone?

In an attempt to add some factual merit to this article – I know I know, just bear with me – The National Library of Medicine published a study detailing how cell phone usage affects brain cognition. Can you take a wild guess at what they found?

The study showed that students who don’t consistently use or own a cell phone have better memory and perform better academically. The study argued that even having a phone present adds cognitive strain – having to consciously fight not to pick it up led to hindered learning, retention and comprehension.

So, there we go, just reminding you of something you already know, but ignore because Instagram reels are just too important to give up: Phones absolutely suck for your brain.

An Education Week article explored the effects of skyrocketing tech use amongst elementary-aged kids, echoing a similar sentiment: when the exposure that should be books is replaced with an iPad screen, cognitive processes associated with comprehension and literary stamina decline.

Second grade teacher Jackie Chaney quotes, “With the ‘microwave world’ that we live in nowadays, students want that immediate engagement and quick response. They do not want to wait and explore novels, delve into characters and settings and enjoy the twists and turns of plots.”

I think Ms. Chaney phrases it perfectly. Today, every person, not just children, that have a phone is faced with the daily challenge of putting it down. Everything you must do in a day is competing with that tiny screen. That mini-Disneyland, that Candy-Crush, sugar high, comatose, mind number that makes you forget you have work in the morning. It’s Tik-Tok vs. submitting that one math assignment. YouTube vs. buying your dad a last-minute Father’s Day gift. And If I can skip out on those things – sorry, Dad – then why the HECK would I voluntarily read a chapter book when I could play Dress to Impress? It’s a no-brainer.

Literally, I guess I’m destroying my brain.

So, we don’t read anymore. And it’s slowly killing the part of our brains that can. And I guess it really is that damn phone. Darn. I owe my mom five bucks.

Now, I’m generalizing. I’m sure there are a couple people still out there that would rather pick up a book than watch Netflix. In fact, in the past couple of years there has been a massive surge in popularity amongst the young adult romance genre.

Headlining authors like Emily Henry, Colleen Hoover and Sarah J. Maas have built million-dollar literary empires on smut.

I’m not saying it’s lowbrow. I’m not an old man shaking his cane at you and telling you to get your dirty smut novels off my metaphorical lawn. I’m just pointing out how it seems nowadays in order for a book to be worth reading it needs to be sex-level stimulating. It needs graphic depictions in every other chapter. Or maybe just one at the end if you’re into that slow burn stuff.

This phenomenon coincides with the rise of Tik-Tok, Instagram and other short form social media platforms. A coincidence? I think not.

Keystone Education Group reveals that Gen Z’s attention span has decreased by 30 percent compared to millennials, from 12 seconds to eight. What will happen to Gen Alpha’s attention span? And the generations after that?

What will happen when they get down to that last second?

After much reflection, I have come to an unfortunate realization. This isn’t something I can avoid. And it’s not something you can avoid either. Social media, cell phones, iPads, TVs, all of that … it’s not getting any less popular. It will only continue to evolve and change, demanding a bigger chunk of your attention and time. And unfortunately … you have to put the phone down. It’s the only way. I’m sorry! But the facts don’t lie.

Obviously, it’s a big ask, so let’s just try and start small.

Here is the dare.

Read me. All the way through. I might throw in a study. Maybe a statistic. But stay strong. If you’ve skimmed up until here, start over. Let your immediate instinct to click that x-button scare you. Read until you can handle anything – even a Harvard Health article from your middle-aged father.

As I place the finishing touches on this article, I overhear a conversation from a table of girls next to me.

“Girl, you totally should join the program!”

“But you have to write an essay or something.”

“Girl, just ChatGPT it.”

I laugh to myself. How poignant.

When was the last time you wrote something?

Claire Thatcher is a freshman at UT this year studying journalism and media. She can be reached at [email protected].

Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.