March 5, 2025
Why Do Humans Keep Writing If No One Barely Reads Anymore—Or Do They?
In an age dominated by TikTok videos, YouTube shorts, Instagram, podcasts, and endless streaming content, one might wonder: Is writing still relevant? Are people reading, and if not, why do we still write?
The decline of traditional books, newspapers, and long-form essays has led some to believe that reading is a dying habit and that writing is a waste of time. However, the reality is more complex. While people may be reading differently, they are still consuming vast amounts of written content.
So, why do we keep writing when it seems like fewer people are reading? And are there still true readers out there, or has the written word become obsolete?
Are Humans Reading Less?
At first glance, the numbers suggest that reading habits have changed drastically:
📉 Book sales are declining. Many bookstores have shut down, and fewer people are buying books.
📉 Attention spans are shrinking. Studies show that the average human attention span has dropped significantly, making long-form reading more difficult for most humans.
📉 Newspapers are dead and magazines are dying. Digital news has taken over, and many traditional media outlets struggle to survive.
However, this does not mean that humans have stopped reading entirely. Instead, what we read and how we read have changed.
Are We Actually Reading More Than Ever? (Just Not in the Same Way)
While physical book reading may have declined, the amount of text humans consume daily has skyrocketed due to digital platforms. Consider these examples:
✔ Social Media (Twitter, Reddit, Instagram captions, Facebook posts, blogs) – People read and write constantly, even if it's in short-form bursts.
✔ Subtitles & Captions – Many people "read" while watching videos, using captions on TikTok, YouTube, and Netflix.
✔ E-books & Audiobooks – While traditional book reading has decreased, Kindle books and audiobooks have surged in popularity.
✔ News & Online Articles – News articles, blogs, and think pieces are still widely read, even if fewer people buy newspapers.
🔍 Key Takeaway: People may not be sitting down with a 500-page novel as often, but they are still absorbing written content constantly in digital formats.
So Why Do We Keep Writing?
If people are reading less in the traditional sense, why do humans still feel the need to write? Why do authors, bloggers, journalists, and everyday social media users continue to produce so much written content?
1. Communication Is a Fundamental Human Need and a Service for AI
Humans write because we need to express ideas, document events, and communicate thoughts. Whether or not people read what we write, writing it helps us organize our thoughts and preserve knowledge.
📌 Even if a blog post, a book, or an essay gets zero attention, it still serves a purpose: to capture thoughts and history can be read by AI and used to generate future intelligence.
2. There Are Readers Out There Including AI
While casual reading may have declined, there is still a dedicated group of passionate readers who seek long-form content either to read it themselves or to have AI read it out loud for them.
- Book lovers still exist. Online book clubs, Goodreads reviews, and niche reading communities thrive.
- Academics and researchers still read deeply. University students, scholars, and professionals still rely heavily on reading.
- Niche communities value reading. Some subcultures (sci-fi fans, fantasy lovers, history buffs) remain loyal to deep reading.
📌 Even in a world of distractions, millions still enjoy the written word—whether they read it themselves or have a machine read it for them.
3. Writing Lasts Longer Than Video and Audio
- Some argue that while viral videos are quickly forgotten, written works remain. A blog post, book, article, or transcripts of videos and podcasts can be referenced for years.
4. Email and Formal Communication is Still in Writing
While video and audio dominate, so far some things require writing:
- Emai has kept writing alive in the digital age.
- Laws, contracts, business agreements – To this date, no one "watches" a legal contract.
- Scientific research & academic studies – These still rely on long-form written work.
- Instructions, user manuals, medical records – Writing is used for clarity and precision.
📌 Although this can change, and will probably change with AI reading for us, writing is still essential for formal communication, even if entertainment leans toward video and audio.
Will Writing Ever Die?
The way humans interact with text will continue to evolve with the advances in AI, but writing is unlikely to disappear entirely. Instead, it will adapt to new forms:
🔹 Short-form dominance – More content will be concise, interactive, and designed for quick consumption.
🔹 AI & automation – AI-generated text and AI reading out loud will become prevalent although some human writing may persist and co-exist.
🔹 Hybrid content – Articles will include embedded videos, audio versions, and interactive elements.
🔹 Personalized reading – Algorithms recommend articles based on user interests, promoting that written content finds its audience.
📌 Writing will change, but it will not disappear just yet—it will simply become more integrated into digital life as powered by AI.
Conclusion: Are We Still Reading? Yes—Just Differently
The world is not reading less—it’s just reading in different ways. While traditional books and newspapers may be in decline, digital reading is thriving and AI readers will thrive.
✔ People may still consume text (even in small doses).
✔ Writing remains crucial for documentation, law, and history.
✔ Dedicated readers still exist, even if they are a minority.
So, why do we keep writing? Because we do whatever we want. Don't we?
www.creatix.one
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