Aleena Jokhio article

Effects of Social Media on Reading Trends In Pakistan

Aleena Jokhio

2k17/mc/12

There is a maxim that a reading nation is a leading nation, but this very vital trend has significantly declined in Pakistan as it is evident from low attendance in public and private libraries in Pakistan. Though there are multiple reasons of this declining reading trends ranging from poor academic structure to outdated courses but social media is one of the major factors in its declination. We are living in a modern era of materialistic ideology and scientific age, and with the growing trend of modern technology in the field of communication almost every individual has got access to internet and ultimately to Social media. In fact, people have become addicted to social media.

                                  The use of social media has drastically increased across the world and Pakistan is not exception to it. Majority of Pakistani nation is directly connected to social media. It is quite evident that vast number of people who use social media waste their invaluable time in fun based activities. According to reports, the active number of Facebook users in Pakistan was about 35 million at the end of 2018 and that number is rapidly increasing. Moreover, the percentage of users accessing to Facebook via mobile was recorded 91% in Pakistan. In other words it can be said that those 91% people have become addicted to phones and they have lost their connection with books and ultimately contributing towards the declining trend of reading. In addition to this, according to Kepios, in January 2019 there were about 1.26 million twitter users in Pakistan. Beside this, 5.20 million people in Pakistan use Instagram. Such a huge number of people has indulged themselves in social media and most of the time they misuse in and kill their time. Social media has become their addiction.

                                   It has also been noticed that when a teacher is delivering a lecture on some very important topic and it needs maximum concentration of all students but unfortunately students do not focus on the lecture. On the other hand, they feel themselves in comfort zone while using social media inside the classroom. Social media affect the concentration level of students and ultimately it results in declining reading trend. Furthermore, students create groups on social sites and post funny and irrelevant material in it but unfortunately they do not making reading clubs and study circles for some healthy discussion in the field of academics. 

                            Furthermore, reading helps in the development of mind and personality of any individual. It enhances intellectual capabilities of individual. However, social media has become a vital component of daily life of students and it is rapidly taking over the consciousness of youth and resultantly reading trend is declining. When people meet fake and irrelevant people on social media then they develop their fake personalities and fake dogmas. However, if they develop their connection with good books then they will groom wonderfully and ultimately they will play a very constructive role and will contribute for the betterment of society.

                          The crux of the matter leads to the conclusion that social media has played havoc in the lives of book readers in Pakistan. People use social media even when they are driving, eating, praying or sitting in the company of others and they discuss about the selfies that they had posted on social media rather than making healthy discussion. In nutshell, people have become completely addicted to social media and they have forget everything about reading trends. However, this situation can be reversed by creating opportunities for people and involving them in some healthy activities of life.

Aleena Jokhio

2k17/mc/12