# Teen reading slumps to worst this century as screen time surges

https://mins.news/en/item/49645

- Reuters, 2026-09-08 12:05 UTC
- Society
- Original: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/teen-reading-slumps-worst-this-century-due-surge-screen-time-2026-09-08/?link_source=ta_bluesky_link&taid=6a9ff9f151db2900015ebce4

> A global student assessment found that teenagers, now more accustomed to smartphones than Shakespeare, are reading at the lowest levels seen this century, contributing to a wider decline in education.

## Related coverage

- [Is Gen Z getting less intelligent?](https://mins.news/en/video/51032) — BBC Chinese, 2026-09-09