Scholars Raise Alarm Over Declining Reading Culture, Blame AI and Social Media

Scholars Raise Alarm Over Declining Reading Culture, Blame AI and Social Media -According to Dr. Kola Adeshina, Head of the Department of Mass Communication at Crescent University, Abeokuta, social media and AI tools are intensifying the already declining reading habits of young people.

Scholars Raise Alarm Over Declining Reading Culture, Blame AI and Social Media

Scholars Raise Alarm Over Declining Reading Culture, Blame AI and Social Media.

He explained that their presence was intentional—to support and motivate the young man while reminding everyone that personal growth comes primarily through reading.

Adeshina cautioned that without urgent action, society risks losing its creativity and capacity for independent thought to machines.

“We are steadily handing over responsibilities to machines. In our time, we relied on our intellect, but today, applications do much of the thinking. If this continues unchecked, we may eventually surrender the world entirely to machines,” he warned.

He also called for a review of the education curriculum to restore humanities and moral instruction, noting that education should produce thinkers, not shortcut-seekers.

“Humanities must return, one that teaches students to think, reflect and question the impact of technology on society,” he added.

Another lecturer at Crescent University, Dr Peter Adebimpe, also lamented what he described as the abandonment of libraries by many young people.

He said, “The world now belongs to Gen Z, but they do not want to read. They have neglected the library. Even when you give them references, they will not read.”

Adebimpe stressed that knowledge of history remained essential to understanding present realities and shaping the future.

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He emphasized that the past remains closely tied to the present, noting that understanding yesterday is essential for interpreting today and anticipating the future.

The academics called on parents, educators, and policymakers to take deliberate steps to revive the reading culture and reinforce the importance of the humanities in education. They warned that excessive reliance on technology could erode both intellectual growth and moral development.

EDUGISTNG TEAM