The ability to think, reason and develop opinions lies at the core of what it means to be human. Sadly, we see the ability to think outside a particular box growing dimmer as more and more people spend the bulk of their time flicking through short-form content on social media.
The endless scroll of bite-sized videos trains the mind to expect constant novelty, discouraging sustained attention and reflection. Psychologists now warn that this pattern of consumption is linked to declining focus, weaker memory and reduced creativity – a phenomenon popularly described as 'brain rot'. A recent review of psychological research found that heavy use of short-form platforms is associated with poorer performance on tasks requiring concentration and self-control. In other words, the very skills needed for independent thought are being eroded by the way we now consume information.
This is exacerbated by the fact that fewer and fewer people worldwide are reading. In the US, surveys suggest that approximately four in ten adults had not read any book last year. Globally too, similar statistics appear for most countries. Unesco estimates that globally, more than 750 million adults remain illiterate and literacy gaps are often compounded by economic inequality, gender disparities and limited access to schools and libraries. The internet is, of course, a global reality and an extraordinary tool – but one that can both enrich and impoverish the mind, depending on how it is used. It is partly for this reason that countries such as Australia are attempting to restrict social media use for children under 16, and the United Kingdom is considering similar measures. In Pakistan, where the official literacy rate stands at approximately 60 per cent and may be lower in reality, short-form content is widely consumed. The situation has been worsened by the closure of dozens of libraries in cities such as Karachi, Lahore and Quetta.
Yet even as formal avenues for reading disappear, children and young people still gather wherever books remain available. These include a camel library in Balochistan organised by the Lahore-based Alif Laila organisation, community libraries such as Kitab Ghar based in the middle of the bustling Icchra bazaar, from where people can collect books and return them without charge, or Mehergarh in Lyari where books, long-form videos, and other materials foster discussion and curiosity.
Thought and discussion are essential to society. Cafes, teahouses and informal spaces across Pakistan host conversations on everything from everyday life to socially taboo topics. Formal platforms in Islamabad, Lahore, and elsewhere also encourage debate, keeping human thought alive in an era where it risks fading. But these spaces remain limited. Too often, opinions clash aggressively online and people struggle to tolerate ideas that differ from their own. This inability to listen fuels volatile, sometimes violent exchanges, whether on social media, in podcasts, or on the streets.
The consequences are serious. Public rallies, protests and debates over issues such as women’s emancipation often descend into confrontations, with participants basing their positions on fragments of information consumed online. Reels, headlines and rabid proclamations shape opinion more than reasoned discussion ever could. Into this reality, we need to restore the ability to think, reason and rationalise. This is difficult when fewer and fewer people are willing to read and even newspapers, notably in the print format, are reaching smaller and smaller numbers. This undermines the ability to develop ideas and engage in meaningful discussion, instead fostering sharp clashes of opinion and attracting others with little substantive material to enter exchanges on X and similar platforms.
How we can change this is the question we must address. Perhaps the key lies in restoring the habit of reading, which once formed a central part of the lives of many literate people. Of course, those who are not literate – and the number is still far too high in our country and across the globe – are deprived of the experience of enjoying the printed word. Even the oral transmission of stories and historical accounts, a cultural tradition, is beginning to vanish.
It is essential that people develop the ability to think and to reason. Of course, this cannot happen instantly. But strategies need to be developed that, over time, encourage people to engage in discussions in which all views can be expressed and to pick up a book to read as a means of opening minds to a variety of thoughts and ideas. This should begin with children. We need a network of libraries where children can access books and other materials that encourage critical thinking and prevent the human brain from falling into disuse. Evidence from recent studies on human behaviour indicates that this is occurring everywhere. But there is also awareness that this needs to end. We can all do our part to end it by acting sensibly in our own spheres and doing everything we can to encourage this course.
The forums currently available for this purpose are too limited and need to be expanded to encompass a much larger body of work. People have established a few such forums in different locations. The number needs to increase and the addiction to short form social media content needs to be treated as a problem in a world where a single mobile phone carries all the material its owner consumes.
The writer is a freelance columnist and former newspaper editor. She can be reached at: [email protected]
