Technology · Malaysia Bureau
Digital gadgets creating 'scrolling generation' with weakened reading habits
Malaysia's Education Minister has raised concerns about how digital devices are eroding reading comprehension and habits among young people. The warning highlights the need for intervention to combat declining literacy levels in the nation's youth.
LSN Malaysia ·
KUALA LUMPUR — Education Minister Fadhlina Azis has sounded an alarm over the emergence of a 'scrolling generation' whose reading habits are being systematically undermined by widespread use of digital gadgets.
The minister's warning underscores growing concerns among educators and policymakers about how smartphones, tablets, and other electronic devices are reshaping the way young Malaysians consume information. Rather than engaging with substantive written content, youth are increasingly skimming through social media feeds and short-form digital content, experts say.
The shift away from traditional reading represents a significant challenge for Malaysia's education system, which has historically relied on strong literacy foundations to support academic achievement across multiple disciplines. The rise of device-centric entertainment and communication has coincided with documented declines in reading proficiency among school-age children.
Educators have begun advocating for renewed emphasis on reading programmes in schools, alongside initiatives to help families establish healthier digital consumption habits. The issue has prompted discussions about how to balance technological literacy with the cognitive benefits of sustained reading engagement.