Reading in 2022

I wonder how reading or literacy are doing these days. It would seem to me that between podcasts and videos on Youtube, Spotify, other platforms, the written word has a harder time to play a role in discourse, culture, and thought than in a long time. Reminds of when Jordan Peterson praised Youtube as being the amplifier of the spoken word and compared it to what the printing press did for the written word.

There appear to be some fundamental differences in the creation of content for listening or watching, and content for reading. The barrier of entry alone probably plays a bigger role than people with a more formal education may be aware of. Literacy among the general population is likely overestimated by those mainly interacting with other academics in their work and social lives.

This may also be a reason why Gemini with its text focus, rather than multimedia focus, is such a breath of fresh air...