Social media spikes student reading habits

By Jessica Wettig

Reading is an activity many college students are expected to partake in; however, technology’s advances are causing some students to look to social media rather than books for reading material.

A study presented April 30 at the American Educational Research Association shows students are reading more than commonly thought because of the time they spend using social media, according to the Chronicle of Higher Eduction. However, some students and staff said they aren’t sure social media usage can be considered reading at all.

English professor Edward Brunner said student reading material constantly evolves. The content and form can change from generation to generation, he said.

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“Young generations will always choose what they want to read for their own interests,” Brunner said. “That material will always take new and surprising forms.”

While the material won’t always be taught in a university, the words will always have meaning to the students who read it, he said.

Brunner said previous generations’ literature often wasn’t viewed as credible material during its time, but years later people realized the works’ value.

Brunner taught a class on ghost stories that were overlooked when first written, he said. However, in his class he analyzed the meanings the work said about that particular time, he said.

“A lot of what we think of as amazing classics from the past are something that we honor because they have ancient roots,” he said.

Brunner said he predicts the same could happen for the social media of today, as well as modern literature.

Karen Heinemann, a graduate assistant in English from Peoria, said a select few students read plenty of literature but most students don’t — they prefer social media.

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Heinemann often asks her students what their favorite books are and many can’t answer, she said. Social media isn’t something students choose over reading literature; rather, it’s a hobby, she said.

Jim McNierney, a graduate assistant in English from Dover Plains, N.Y., said college-age adults traditionally don’t like to read for leisure. However, students are choosing to read more often because young adult literature is becoming more popular, he said.

Social media isn’t replacing students’ reading habits; it’s more of a hobby students like to practice in their spare time, he said.

“Students live in a sea of text, which makes literacy more important than ever before,” McNierney said.

While some teachers said social media is becoming more popular, many students said they have a passion for reading novels but also social media.

Hali Burke, a freshman from Lake Forest studying zoology, said she spends about two hours a day on social media to stay connected with people back home and stay updated on news.

“I not only get the story, but I also get (to see) other people’s opinions about it,” she said.

Burke said she also likes to read for fun — especially Stephen King novels.

Haleigh Langer, a freshman from Johnsburg studying pre-med, said she doesn’t read as much as she used to, mostly because she didn’t bring any books from home this year and she doesn’t like e-books. While she is on social media constantly, Langer said it’s mostly because she can access her accounts from her phone.

“It doesn’t help that my iPhone sends me push notifications for (social media),” she said.

Haley Stevens, a freshman from Carterville studying pre-med, said she loves to read for fun; she enjoys Jane Austen novels and “Gone with the Wind,” as well more modern books such as “The Help” and “Water for Elephants.”

Stevens said she is on social media daily but didn’t have a Facebook until the start of this year.

“Now I read more social media, but that’s only because I have a Kindle,” she said.

However, Stevens said she prefers paper books compared to Kindle e-books.

Jacob Carlson, a sophomore from Johnsburg studying biomedical sciences/pre-medicine, said he doesn’t like reading social media or novels. He prefers outdoor hobbies, he said, such as hiking and fishing, but occasionally reads magazines about his hobbies.

“Social media is kind of a waste of my time,” he said. “I’d rather go outside.”

Carlson uses social media to keep in touch with people, but he doesn’t feel the need to spend a lot of time on it, he said.

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