A recent survey reveals that children now favor listening to audiobooks and podcasts over traditional reading habits, marking the first such finding.
According to the National Literacy Trust, the percentage of people who enjoyed audio content exceeded those who enjoyed reading physical books last year.
This unequaled shift can be attributed to a decline in reading pleasure reaching an all-time low, alongside the increasing appeal of audiobooks.
The charity is currently advocating for the government to incorporate audio reading materials into school curriculums as part of its major curriculum review initiative.
It was proposed that audiobooks might serve as an introduction for children to become familiar with texts prior to reading them themselves.
The survey report said: ‘Findings indicated that children and young people’s levels of reading and writing enjoyment are in crisis.
'Nevertheless, the pleasure derived from listening has stayed fairly constant, leading to an outcome where, in 2024, a greater number of children and youngsters stated they enjoyed listening to audio content over reading during their leisure time.'
'This marks the first instance where listening pleasure has surpassed reading pleasure.'
The survey, which included over 37,000 young people between the ages of eight and eighteen, revealed that 42 percent appreciated listening to audio during their leisure time in 2024, up from 39 percent in 2023.
This compares to only 35 percent who found pleasure in reading during their leisure time—a decline from 43.4 percent the prior year and the smallest percentage since records began.
For the first time since the charity started analyzing listening behaviors in 2020, more people opted for audio over reading.
This trend is primarily fueled by boys, as 43 percent of them reported enjoying audio formats, whereas 40 percent of girls expressed the same preference.
This represents a flip in the gender gap for reading enjoyment, as just 28 percent of boys indicated they liked it, whereas 41 percent of girls expressed this sentiment.
The Trust found 37 per cent of those surveyed agreed that listening to an audiobook had got them interested in reading books.
Nearly half—48 percent—reported that engaging with audiobooks or podcasts helped them gain a deeper understanding of stories or subjects.
The charity appealed to the government during their Curriculum and Assessment Review to 'expand the range of reading materials to include audio formats, thereby enhancing literacy support for children and young people'.
The Labour party has tasked Professor Becky Francis with conducting the review, which is set to be submitted later this year.
Jonathan Douglas, CEO of the Trust, stated: "Over the past few years, we've observed a consistent increase in children's enthusiasm for auditory content consumption. We have also discovered numerous advantages this trend brings—ranging from fostering a passion for literature and enhancing literary skills, to enriching educational experiences and improving mental health."
'By collaborating to harness children and young people's passion for audio content, we can significantly contribute to cultivating a generation of avid readers and addressing the national crisis of pleasure reading.'
Julie McCulloch from the ASCL headteachers' union stated, "Certainly, there is promise in employing audio formats to foster a passion for reading along with everything else schools do to instruct children in reading, writing, and accessing excellent literature."
'Audiobooks and podcasts could be especially beneficial for hesitant readers.'
Chris McGovern from the Campaign for Real Education commented, "This is intriguing yet disheartening."
'There is a space for audiobooks, however, primarily they are meant to be read.'
'A tendency towards listening rather than reading actually reflects a bias toward convenience. If young individuals fail to acknowledge the crucial significance of reading, they risk losing essential skills.'
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