Deep Reading Enhances Critical Thinking and Helps Combat Misinformation

In an era of constant digital stimulation, Americans are increasingly tethered to their smartphones, checking them an average of 140 times daily and spending approximately 4.5 hours on these devices. More than half of users admit to feeling addicted to their phones, creating a fertile environment for tech companies and content creators to compete aggressively for attention—often at the expense of factual accuracy.

This digital landscape makes critical reading skills more crucial than ever, yet literacy continues to decline across the United States. Reading comprehension scores have fallen to concerning levels, with troubling trends emerging across generations. Many Gen Z parents view reading aloud to their children as a burden rather than a bonding opportunity, while numerous college students struggle to complete even a single book.

“Social media platforms are designed to encourage passive engagement,” explains JT Torres, director of the Harte Center for Teaching and Learning at Washington and Lee University. “The infinite scroll mechanism trains the brain to consume information without critical analysis, making users more susceptible to misinformation.”

Torres and Jeff Saerys-Foy, an associate professor of psychology at Quinnipiac University, have been researching how people process information through reading. Their findings suggest that deep reading—the intentional process of engaging with information in critical, analytical, and empathetic ways—can be an effective counter to the spread of misinformation while also reducing stress and feelings of loneliness.

Social media algorithms compound the problem by feeding users content similar to what they’ve already engaged with, reinforcing existing beliefs and creating echo chambers. This phenomenon, coupled with what researchers call the “illusory truth effect”—where repeated exposure to information increases its perceived believability—makes distinguishing fact from fiction increasingly difficult.

“Deep reading involves making inferences, drawing connections, engaging with different perspectives, and questioning possible interpretations,” Saerys-Foy notes. “It’s certainly more demanding than scrolling, but the cognitive benefits are substantial.”

The researchers acknowledge that deep reading requires effort and can trigger negative feelings like irritation or confusion. This raises an important question: Why would anyone choose the hard work of deep reading when scrolling and skimming are so much easier?

The answer may lie in the unintended consequences of excessive smartphone and social media use. Studies have linked these behaviors to increased boredom, loneliness, existential anxiety, and misanthropy. In contrast, focused attention and effort, despite being exhausting, can deepen one’s sense of purpose and strengthen social connections.

Educators have long recognized the value of guided reading experiences, where teachers lead students through longer texts paired with active discussions to reinforce comprehension and interpretation. While some schools have shifted toward assigning excerpts rather than complete books, evidence suggests that sustained reading in social settings promotes lifelong enjoyment of reading.

Interestingly, social media isn’t entirely detrimental to reading culture. Communities like BookTok on TikTok have emerged as popular platforms where readers discuss and recommend books, demonstrating that close analysis still has a place even within the infinite scroll of social media.

For those looking to develop deeper reading habits, Torres and Saerys-Foy offer practical advice. “Simply being aware of how digital reading practices shape your brain can encourage new attitudes and habits toward information consumption,” Torres suggests. “Even pausing for a few seconds to consciously judge information can counteract the illusory truth effect.”

They recommend starting small with poems, short stories, or essays before tackling longer texts. Finding a reading partner can also help maintain momentum and add a social dimension to what is often a solitary activity.

“Reading deeply means being able to intentionally choose when to read at different speeds,” Saerys-Foy explains. “It involves slowing down to wrestle with difficult passages, savor striking prose, critically evaluate information, and reflect on meaning. It’s about entering into a dialogue with the text rather than merely extracting information.”

By practicing deep reading, individuals can open themselves to new perspectives and ideas that can be explored in conversation with others—whether in person or even on social platforms like TikTok, potentially transforming passive digital consumption into meaningful engagement with diverse viewpoints.