The term “functionally illiterate” is used to describe someone whose reading and writing is inadequate, and according to the Daily mail newspaper there is “up to 8 million illiterate adults” in the UK, and the “UK is ranked the 3rd worst for reading and writing” in the world.

So why do we need to read? According to ExaminedExistence.com a study was conducted by Stanford University to prove that in order for the brain to stay healthy and to fulfil a greater ability, reading is essential and is a great way to provide the brain with a mental workout. This is why it is a necessity to read every day, although we read road signs and labels everyday; Government figures show that 5.2 million workers are functionally illiterate however a survey on Goodread’s has shown that only 39 people out of a total of 114 read books for their own pleasure on an average of 2 hours a day.

Stimulating the brain and relaxing the brain is a balancing act. With the constant bombardment of social media it would be easy to think that the brain is getting all the exercise it needs. However, whilst an appetite for knowledge is encouraging are we really giving the brain the real sustenance it needs or just storing random information? Do flashes of information constitute real reading? The modern youth of today may think so, whereas the older generation may consider that nothing beats a good novel for widening knowledge.

Everyone will have their own preference and whatever the age, research shows that reading is beneficial for everyone. For children who have grown up with the digital age, having access to online stories has proved a useful tool for parents who are keen for their children not to ignore books. Keeping up and maintaining reading as you get older has been shown to delay memory loss and dementia in later years, according to the Fisher Centre for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.

Whilst the format of reading has changed as many libraries have closed down due to funding issues, the World Wide Web and media advancement ensures that reading is still accessible for all. With the future generation being brought up with new technologies and with different ways to read, it is important to promote reading as much as possible. With reading having so many benefits it is difficult to see the downside; ensuring that the next generation has the best possible chances and to take advantage of the increasing advancement of technology that can now provide us with many ways to read. However in my opinion a screen can never replace the feel of reading off of a real page.

Written by Alana Constant, Thamesview School