The Delayed Digital Revolution-Most Read Print Books
The digital revolution delayed “or” the more things change the more they stay the same.
I enjoy reminding communicators that while we must completely embrace the digital revolution, the principles of communication continue to center on traditional content creation, e-mail with social coming in third for most topics per Pew. See link at the bottom of the article for additional information.
Yep, I love social media and I believe that’s it’s the future of communications. But at the moment, it’s not how most Americans receive messages about brands or causes.
I worked on national advertising and public service campaigns decades ago and most ad executives from that era would be comfortable with how it’s done today via television, radio and print (traditional media).
Digital Books:
It’s the same with books and other forms of reading material. I keep hearing about digital outselling print books. But I ride a train every day into Washington, D.C. and when I see people reading, 70 percent hold printed books.
Yes, we all have electronic devices for music , podcasts, web searching and e-mail but in this world of rather affluent people riding the train, printed books remain the primary choice of readers.
There are comparisons between social media and digital books. Both are growing by leaps and bounds and communicators who don’t pay attention to emerging trends do so at their own risk. But traditional methods of being influenced or consuming content continue to dominate.
Research from Pew:
More than eight in ten Americans ages 16-29 read a book in the past year, and six in ten used their local public library. Many say they are reading more in the era of digital content, especially on their mobile phones and on computers.
According to a nationally representative poll by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project:
- 83% of Americans between the ages of 16 and 29 read a book in the past year.
- 75% read a print book, 19% read an e-book, and 11% listened to an audiobook (my emphasis added).
- Among Americans who read e-books, those under age 30 are more likely to read their e-books on a cell phone (41%) or computer (55%) than on an e-book reader such as a Kindle (23%) or tablet (16%).
- Overall, 47% of younger Americans read long-form e-content such as books, magazines or newspapers. E-content readers under age 30 are more likely than older e-content readers to say that they are reading more these days due to the availability of e-content (40% vs. 28%).
- About half (48%) of readers under age 30 said they had purchased their most recently read book. Another 24% said they had borrowed it from a friend or family member, and 14% said they borrowed it from a library.
Best, Len.
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Read or download the full report: http://libraries.pewinternet.
For additional information on traditional verses social media, see https://www.leonardsipes.com/social-cant-compete-with-traditional-media/ or search for “traditional media” in the search box for this site.
