Screen Time vs. Page Time: Social Media and the Transformation of Reading Among Youth’

The rapid expansion of digital technologies and digital platforms such as TikTok and Instagram has fundamentally transformed how adolescents and young adults engage with written material. This thesis explores how social media use is reshaping reading habits, focusing on the shift from traditional print to digital formats and the rise of short-form, interactive content. Using a qualitative case study approach and secondary data analysis, the research draws upon academic literature, theoretical frameworks, and statistical reports. It investigates how social media influences concentration, comprehension, and critical engagement, and considers whether digital platforms promote superficial reading or foster new adaptive literacies. Findings suggest that while social media offers innovative opportunities for information access and peer interaction, it also encourages fragmented reading patterns and multitasking that may undermine deep reading and sustained attention. However, critical and international use of digital platforms can support alternative forms of literacy and learning. The thesis concludes that as reading habits evolve, educational strategies must balance the benefits of digital engagement with the cultivation of critical and focused reading practices essential for learning.