Deep Reading Enhances Critical Thinking Skills and Misinformation Resistance, Research Shows

In an era dominated by digital distractions, Americans check their phones an average of 140 times daily, spending approximately 4.5 hours on their devices. A concerning 57% of users admit to feeling “addicted” to their phones, according to recent data from Consumer Affairs.

This digital dependency has created a competitive landscape where tech companies and content creators vie aggressively for attention, inadvertently fueling the spread of misinformation across platforms. The situation has made critical reading skills more essential than ever before.

Yet literacy rates continue to decline across the United States. Reading comprehension scores have fallen to concerning levels, with particularly troubling declines among struggling students. The pattern starts early – research from HarperCollins reveals that many Gen Z parents view reading aloud to their children as a chore rather than an enriching activity. This trend extends into higher education, where numerous college students struggle to complete entire books, according to reporting from The Atlantic.

“Social media platforms are specifically designed to encourage passive engagement,” explains Dr. JT Torres, Director of the Harte Center for Teaching and Learning at Washington and Lee University. “The endless scrolling and easy reposting features create habits that people use primarily to escape boredom and stress rather than to engage critically with information.”

Torres, a cognitive scientist, and Dr. Jeff Saerys-Foy, an Associate Professor of Psychology at Quinnipiac University and literacy expert, have been researching how people process information through reading. Their findings suggest deep reading can serve as an effective countermeasure against misinformation while simultaneously reducing stress and alleviating feelings of loneliness.

The difference between deep reading and passive scrolling is significant. While social media algorithms feed users content similar to what they’ve previously engaged with – reinforcing existing beliefs and creating what experts call an “illusory truth” effect – deep reading demands an intentional engagement with information in critical, analytical, and empathetic ways.

“Deep reading involves making inferences, drawing connections between ideas, engaging with different perspectives, and questioning potential interpretations,” says Saerys-Foy. “It requires effort and can trigger feelings of discomfort, but the benefits are substantial.”

Research increasingly links mindless scrolling with negative psychological outcomes. Excessive smartphone and social media use correlates with increased boredom and loneliness. “Doomscrolling” specifically has been associated with higher levels of existential anxiety and misanthropy in recent studies.

Conversely, the focused attention and cognitive effort required for deep reading, while initially exhausting, can deepen one’s sense of purpose and strengthen social connections. People feel motivated to complete tasks that help them pursue personal goals, especially when these activities are recognized by others – making shared reading experiences particularly effective.

Some educators are already implementing strategies to promote deep reading. Teachers who guide students through complete novels paired with active discussions reinforce both comprehension and interpretive skills. Evidence suggests that sustained reading in social settings can foster lifelong enjoyment of reading.

Interestingly, social media itself can be leveraged as a tool for promoting deeper engagement with text. BookTok, a thriving community on TikTok dedicated to discussing and recommending books, demonstrates that close analysis and critical engagement can exist alongside the quick-scrolling culture of social platforms.

For those looking to strengthen their deep reading skills, experts recommend several approaches. Simply being aware of how digital reading practices shape cognitive patterns can encourage new attitudes and habits. Taking brief pauses before sharing content online has been shown to reduce susceptibility to misinformation.

“Reading deeply means being able to intentionally choose when to read at different speeds,” Torres notes. “It involves slowing down to wrestle with difficult passages, savoring striking prose, critically evaluating information, and reflecting on meaning rather than just extracting information.”

For beginners, starting with shorter texts like poems, short stories, or essays before progressing to longer works can build confidence. Partnering with friends or family members to establish reading goals – such as completing one chapter per day of a novel with subsequent discussions – can provide both motivation and accountability.

As digital distractions continue to proliferate, cultivating deep reading may prove to be not just an academic skill but an essential tool for maintaining critical thinking abilities in an increasingly complex information landscape.