Data Challenges Perception of Youth Literacy Crisis, Highlighting Digital Engagement

The notion that younger generations have abandoned traditional reading habits is being challenged by empirical data suggesting a gap in perception rather than an actual literacy crisis. This phenomenon necessitates a shift in educational paradigms to acknowledge the contemporary literacy practices flourishing in digital spaces. Studies conducted by Cuesta in 2021 and Echarri in 2025 explicitly highlighted the active engagement of adolescents on platforms such as Wattpad and Goodreads, where they are not only consuming content but also productively writing and participating in in-depth literary discussions. This underscores that reading remains a vital activity, even as the medium has evolved significantly.

Current literature consumption trends are confirmed by the surge in popularity of genres driven by social media interaction, particularly the BookTok phenomenon, which propels genres like romance and fantasy to prominence. Adults frequently fail to recognize modern reading activity because it occurs across various screens and in diverse formats, ranging from digital novels and manga to fanfiction, which represents a form of collective creativity.

This shift in format is reflected in national statistics. Data from Spain in 2024 indicated that 75.3% of individuals aged 14 to 24 read for recreation, positioning them as the most enthusiastic reading demographic in the country. In Mexico, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) recorded a recovery in reading interest in 2025, largely led by young people embracing a variety of reading materials, including electronic formats, according to the Module on Reading (MOLEC) 2025 results, which showed 89.1% of the 12-to-24 age group read some material.

The resistance observed toward assigned school reading, as noted by Echarri in 2025, is seldom a rejection of reading itself. Instead, it often manifests as resistance to mandatory texts deemed obsolete or irrelevant to contemporary interests. The fundamental conflict arises from the devaluation by older generations of youth reading choices, where popular genres are frequently dismissed as not being 'serious' literature.

Progressive educational approaches now advocate for the recognition and validation of actual youth reading practices, rather than imposing rigid, traditional models of literary consumption. The cultural influence of youth-driven literature is being amplified by international events, such as the LITERAL 2025 International Youth Literature Festival, held in Buenos Aires on November 8 and 9, 2025. This festival, organized by the Ministry of Culture of the City of Buenos Aires in partnership with the Vargas Llosa Chair at the Biblioteca Parque de la Estación, was explicitly designed to celebrate the new generation of readers and creators who transform reading into a shared experience.

The event featured international figures such as Spanish authors Iria and Selene, alongside Cherry Chic, and Mexican content creators Raiza Revelles and Claudia Ramírez Lomelí, all possessing substantial digital followings. Furthermore, BookTok has popularized genres like romantasy—a blend of romance and fantasy—offering emotional escapism through magical world narratives, exemplified by the phenomenon of books such as Rebecca Yarros's *Fourth Wing*. Javier Martínez, Director General of Book Promotion, Libraries, and Culture, stated that LITERAL served to demonstrate that the assumption that young people read less is irrelevant; they are reading, producing, and discussing literature in new arenas. The change lies in the interaction with text, which is now more collective, enjoyable, and intensive due to digital platforms and existing reader communities. Validating these digital practices is a crucial step toward educational relevance in the 21st century.