Gen Z Is Reading More Than Ever and They're Choosing Print Books Over Screens

Remember when everyone said the younger generation had given up on reading? A new study from Cambridge University Press says that’s just not true. Researchers found that 66% of Gen Z now identify as readers, a big jump from just a few years ago. And they’re not just skimming articles online. They’re choosing physical books, saying it gives them a break from the constant glow of screens.

The same study found that libraries are playing a bigger role in young people’s lives. More than a third of Gen Z respondents said they found a book because a librarian recommended it. That number has more than doubled since 2022. There’s also a mental health angle here. Young people who didn’t visit libraries reported higher levels of loneliness than those who did.

So what does this mean for us? Maybe it’s a sign that we should all take a little time to unplug, visit our local library, and remember the simple pleasure of a good book. Do you prefer a paperback or a screen? Let us know in the comments.