On August 7th, Professor Tanya Serry, co-director of the SOLAR Lab at La Trobe University, was interviewed by Tom Elliot on 3AW Mornings about the decline in deep reading among adults. The interview was in response to a British study which highlighted a growing trend where fewer adults are dedicating time to reading for pleasure and learning, a shift that poses significant implications for cognitive development and cultural engagement.
During the interview, Serry pointed out that while the rise of digital media and the fast-paced nature of modern life have contributed to a decrease in deep reading, contributors to the problem were likely multifactorial. She explained that while people are consuming more information than ever, much of it is skimming or surface-level engagement, which does not foster the same cognitive benefits as immersive reading.
The interview is available below and commences at the 1 hour 36-minute mark of the episode.