The issue with modern literacy

So... I have some things to say.

In recent decades, it's been recognized that we've fallen into a literacy crisis (at least in the western hemisphere; I can't speak for the rest of the world). For the most part, it seems the conversation is centered on Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha, but I've seen it apply to older generations as well, as AI engines spew more and more slop into the ether. With short-form content usurping almost all media on the Internet, attention spans and capacities for critical thinking are paying the price. Now, in the past few years, starting at the end of COVID-19, we're finally seeing the consequences of constantly consuming overstimulating, short-form content.

Right away, I would like to point out that at the time of writing this, I work as a high school English teacher. So I have first-hand experience with combating apathy, laziness, and neglect of ADHD symptoms like nobody's business. At our school (which will remain unnamed for privacy purposes), the English department reviewed data and test scores that showed our kids were several grade levels behind and performed poorly on comprehension in both informational and literary passages. In the classroom, it was like pulling teeth to get many of them to read for long periods or to write more than 2 sentences. So many rolling eyes, huffing and puffing, whining about how they don't want to do it, they'll do it tomorrow or at home, using AI to do their thinking for them, etc. It gives me a headache just writing about it.

Now, of course, the level of mental depression has risen noticeably within the United States (around 18% of adults as of 2025), so of course, it makes sense that teens are afflicted with it as well, and that will naturally affect students' ability to function fully at school. I know, because I've also had to deal with depression during my teen years (still am!), I recognize the signs all too well, and I've listened to many students who struggle with these issues, who have trouble staying awake during the day and show little interest in hobbies or activities. These are not the students I'm talking about. The ones I'm talking about see nothing wrong with taking the short route to get ahead, see no point in learning skills they'll "never use again", and refuse to engage in anything they find boring or too hard to understand. And the worst part of it all is that they often don't understand the consequences of their actions or don't care at all.

The world has become superficial, with wealthy, out-of-touch geriatrics clutching the dust of what the old world once was, and youth who sell their souls to corporations for a quick buck. Kids are preyed upon, parents of these kids are also to blame for being friends with their kids because they missed out on their independent days, and the people who are supposed to and sworn by law to protect the people are spineless puppets who enact violence on the innocent simply because "I'm just following orders." This is only a drop in the bucket of all the mess these kids will have to deal with when they grow up and are out in the world. People take advantage of others' ignorance, and over time, it seems more people are okay with it. Sure, we might rant about it online or vent to our friends, but besides protesting and picketing, what are we actually doing about it? THAT is the kind of world these kids are stepping into. And it scares me.

We NEED to be more critical of allowing AI to become part of daily life, especially for the younger generations. It's stunting their brain development; teachers are struggling on the front lines. Kids struggle to focus, have difficulty regulating their emotions, and are easily influenced by pop culture and influencers with no moral backbone. We also NEED to let kids figure things out by themselves when they're young; their cognitive development needs to practice problem-solving skills early on if they are going to be more successful in applying critical thinking to more complex problems as they get older. Of course, modeling how to solve problems first is a MUST, but after that, the reins need to be let go. Critical thinking is crucial to how we approach socio-political issues and other situations that require us to be engaged and cognizant.

We cannot let thinking be done for us. If we're going to progress as a human race, we need to get back in touch with what works: books, paper, and pencil. We need to care about what we consume and where it comes from. We need to care more about being genuinely engaged with the world, not superficially. We need to value human intelligence, not automated intelligence. We need to think beyond what's in front of us and think of all the possibilities that could be.

We need to care more.