Swipe Culture: How Short-Form Content Is Reshaping Literature And Attention Spans

The Rise of Short-Form Content

In a world where platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube reign supreme, our attention spans have become fleeting. The COVID-19 pandemic only amplified this trend, with screen time among children and young adults in the UK soaring by 52% from 2020 to 2022. Short-form content provides an instant dopamine hit, making us crave the next scroll. However, this digital snacking is eroding our ability to dive into more substantial long-form content.

Reading vs. Scrolling

The National Literacy Trust highlights a worrying 36% decline since 2005 in reading enjoyment among 8-18-year-olds in the UK. It’s no surprise when less than 20% of children read daily for fun by 2025. Adults aren’t faring much better; a YouGov survey in 2025 found that 40% of Britons hadn’t read a single book in the previous 12 months. Compare that to an average daily screen time of three hours among adults, with nearly two hours swallowed by social media.

“When scrolling becomes a bedtime ritual, books find themselves competing with screens for our dwindling attention.”

We’ve swapped page-turning for screen-glancing, affecting not just our sleep but also our cognitive abilities. The seduction of multitasking while scrolling is undeniable, but studies link it to poorer cognitive performance, highlighting how our minds are untrained for in-depth analysis.

A Shift in Literary Consumption

With the convenience of e-readers and audiobooks, traditional books have had to adapt. Devices like Kindle compress libraries into portable gadgets, while audiobooks transform commuting or exercising into reading time for our ears. These innovations hint that reading still holds value, despite the growing competition from screens. Yet, they also suggest a shift towards convenience over deep engagement.

The Bingeable Book Trend

Authors like Colleen Hoover, whose book It Ends With Us dominated 2022 sales and saw a film adaptation in 2024, thrive in this new market. The simplicity of such reads caters to diminished attention spans, echoing phenomena like Fifty Shades of Grey that captivated audiences despite literary critiques. Similarly, Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series has become a BookTok favorite, celebrated for its quick consumption.

As these "bingeable" narratives rise, critical voices question their depth. Are we prioritizing dopamine hits over genuine literary merit? It’s a dilemma as publishers cater to this demand, potentially sidelining works that challenge and enrich our minds.

The Fight for Meaningful Literature

In a barrage of easily digestible content, discovering literature that stimulates and educates seems more challenging than ever. Shorter attention spans have led to a surge in straightforward reads, but true literary engagement requires complexity. As we grapple with this shift, the question remains: Can we reclaim our focus and appreciation for narratives that foster understanding and empathy?

Grace Kemp reminds us that returning to challenging novels could bolster our critical thinking and emotional intelligence, pulling us back from the brink of a screen-dominated existence. It’s a call to nurture our brains as diligently as we care for our bodies, embracing the richness that literature has to offer.

Supporting Literature and Creativity

The Indiependent is on a mission to support its contributors and cover operational costs. With efforts like the ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, they continue to champion creative voices. Every contribution, be it £1 or £10, aids in fostering a community where literature and commentary thrive.