In 2026, many people in the United States are becoming increasingly worried about the decline in literacy. Literacy means being able to read, write, and understand information. Reading scores have been dropping for years, and experts believe this problem is getting worse because of screen time, social media, and students reading less for fun.
Today, around 73.2% of the whole population spends time on the internet, according to Data Reportal. Along with this, the average person in the U.S.A. spends about six hours and 40 minutes a day on the internet, Data Reportal, slide 70, states.
The use of the internet and phones are starting to decrease the amount of reading that people do. According to The National Literacy Institute, “21% of adults in the U.S.are illiterate in 2024…54% of adults have a literacy below a 6th-grade level.” This can cause not just a decrease in IQ for children, but can cause problems in the nation like not being able to properly read prescription bottles, unemployment rates increasing, and school dropout rates increasing, according to The National Literacy Institute.
As The New York Times shows, another problem is that fewer students read for fun. Many students are falling behind in reading skills because they do not practice reading regularly outside of school. In the past, children often read books after school or before bed, but now many prefer watching videos or scrolling through social media. Reading helps students improve vocabulary, writing, and comprehension skills, so when students stop reading, their literacy skills become weaker over time.
Education experts also believe the COVID-19 pandemic caused learning loss that schools are still recovering from. Many students missed important classroom instruction during lockdowns, especially younger children learning how to read. Schools in recent years have lowered expectations for students in some areas, which may also contribute to weaker academic performance and literacy skills.
The United States is rated as 37th in literacy rates with a rate of 99% over the whole population, according to World Population Review. Arizona itself is ranked #42 in education, US News states.
Even though the literacy crisis is serious, experts believe it can still be fixed. According to Education Trust, schools can improve reading instruction and help students build stronger literacy habits. Parents can also encourage children to read at home and reduce screen time. Libraries, teachers, and communities can support students by helping them find books they enjoy reading. Small changes like reading every day can help improve literacy over time.
