Decline in reading linked to public opinion on UK port protests
UKPulse News Desk
A recent YouGov poll indicated that 53% of 18-24 year olds had no view on recent masked demonstrations in Dover and Portsmouth, with 43% of all ages unaware or not following the story. This is suggested to be linked to a decline in reading.
- A YouGov poll found 53% of 18-24 year olds had no view on the legitimacy of masked demonstrations in Dover and Portsmouth.
- 43% of all ages were either unaware of or not following the story about the port protests.
- The National Literacy Trust has recorded a 36% fall in young people enjoying reading in their spare time over 20 years.
A recent YouGov poll on masked demonstrations in Dover and Portsmouth revealed that 53% of people aged 18-24 did not have a point of view on whether these events constituted a legitimate form of protest. Additionally, 43% of individuals across all age groups were either unaware of the story or not following it.
This lack of engagement and opinion is suggested to be connected to a decline in reading. The National Literacy Trust has reported a 36% decrease in the number of children and young people who enjoy reading in their spare time over the past two decades, reaching its lowest recorded level.
In 2024, a survey by the Reading Agency charity found that 35% of adults identified as "lapsed readers," meaning they previously read for pleasure regularly but now rarely or never do so.
Why this matters: The decline in reading is suggested to impact public understanding and contextualisation of national and global events.