The Digital Age: Why Written Word Matters in a Tech Obsessed World
In a world defined by instant gratification, social media influencers, memes and doom-scrolling the world seems to be advancing faster than ever before. But is it really progress? We are facing a teacher crisis, worsened by students’ struggles with reading comprehension skills and disengaged parents calling for no homework, issues that are exacerbated by the growing reliance on Chromebooks and an influx of tech-based education. Not to mention Covid’s effect on this fast growing issue. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) only 33% of U.S. 4th graders scored at or above the “proficient” reading level in 2023. Yet, in the midst of it all written word still stands as a pillar for permanence and human connection.
While texting, tweeting or phone calls offer us instant communication and are helpful for connecting with parents living in other states or even calling out of work while sitting in the parking lot, it takes as much as it gives. Tech absolutely serves its purpose, but the quick exchanges we have grown reliant on lack depth, nuance and intention. Written content– such as books, essays, news articles and letters give us the time to craft our words thoughtfully and organize ideas with purpose. Whether composing a thought out email or a blog post, written responses allow for clarity that can’t always be achieved in a Facebook comment or a brief text message. In a school setting, a well researched essay can present an argument more effectively than most people can in a verbal conversation, even if the speaker knows all the same information. Tone, biases, staggered memory, and nerves can all impact someone’s ability to articulate a good argument face to face. Writing, however, allows you to gather your thoughts, plan out sentence structure, focus on multiple detailed topics and can convey a clear sense of tone – something verbal communication struggles to provide when nerves or forgetfulness are involved.
Physical, handwritten pieces are a tangible emotional connection that digital communication can’t replicate. Beyond the actual words, the act of writing offers human connection and preserves history. Holding a letter in your hands— feeling the paper between your fingers, touching the same creases and smudged ink left by a loved one is intimate. Compared to a text message that holds the same words but lacks the personal touch of ink on paper. When we write something by hand we pay it more attention, communication becomes an act of intention.
Writing is an anchor in a digital world. You can’t pull a text out of a shoe box years later to reminisce on. Writers and poets, myself included, are often labeled as scatter brained or eccentric, as someone who saves every birthday card and letter I’ve ever received, I’ve been called a hoarder (both literally and emotionally). But, the truth is, the saved words of old friends and passed grandparents are real life time capsules. Pulling out my saved random notes and cards from— what feels like a lifetime ago, and reliving the moment of just receiving it like it’s happening today. I can experience it all over again. It’s not clutter; it’s a tangible memory made up of everyone I’ve ever known.
Throughout history we have preserved truth, knowledge, and stories. Invaluable works such as Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl, a first hand account of the Holocaust, allow us to experience the emotions and reality of one of history’s most devastating periods. As Anne wrote in secrecy, she had no idea her story of atrocity would withstand the test of time. Similarly, we have classics like Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury that paints a picture of a dystopian society where books are banned and reading is criminal. This novel warns against an erasure of history, censorship, and mass manipulated societies, following Guy Montag on his journey from book burning fireman to risking his life to preserve them. Ray Bradbury wrote this fictional story in 1953. Now, 71 years later its themes still remain chillingly relevant– ironically enough, it has even been banned in many schools. Between July 2021 and June 2024 there have been nearly 16 thousand recorded instances of book removals across 43 states in the U.S. involving over 4,000 unique book titles that have been banned or challenged in public schools, according to PEN America.
This censorship we are witnessing silences needed voices and restricts different perspectives. The impact of book bans reaches beyond the classroom, shaping the way these kids think about their environment. Most of the books being banned deal with themes of racism, sexuality, and social issues leaving students with a limited view of reality. The number one most banned book across the country being Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult, depicting a fictional school shooting from multiple perspectives including the lives of the students, their families, and even officers involved. The argument around banning this novel is due to a multitude of reasons including descriptions of bullying, sexual assault, and acts of gun violence as well as explicit language that parents feel isnt appropriate for a school setting. This novel forces readers to ask hard questions about how far we’ve gone in shielding kids from the world we live in. While fictional, Nineteen Minutes mirrors real life tragedies such as the Columbine High School shooting, Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, Majority Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, and most recently on December 16th the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin. The novel’s purpose is not to encourage more violence, but to spark conversations about the underlying issues that contribute to it. The banning of such works creates a dangerous reality where we hide these truths in the closets of society’s memory, potentially preventing future youth from learning the lessons needed to prevent these tragedies.
By engaging with said controversial books like Of Mice and Men, 1984, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Catcher in the Rye, and hundreds more we are reminded of the similar stories throughout history, not just facts we choose to remember but truths we try to forget. Without these conversations we risk repeating this history, tales of authoritarianism in dystopian societies, the falsely accused dealing with tragedies in the justice system, the dark side of human nature, and societal flaws. Works like the aforementioned To Kill a Mockingbird grapple systemic racism and rape, while 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 focus on unchecked power, censorship and mass manipulation. These books subtly encourage us to question, challenge and continue learning, even when it seems like “everyone” is doing it. As uncomfortable as these topics may be, avoiding them ensures we remain ignorant. It’s not just about preserving literature, but preserving our freedom to think critically, fight for justice, challenge wrong doings and progress as a society of freethinkers.
As we confront these issues, it becomes clear that the age of instant communication and a push for more tech, has changed how we engage with information as a whole. While technology offers convenience, easy access, and immediacy it hasn’t always served a deeper purpose of empathy and understanding. Texts and tweets often lack the introspection and permanence of written works like books, poems, and letters. Written content allows for reflection and preserves messages and lessons for future generations that digitized media can’t measure up to. In a world where information can be lost by accidentally refreshing your feed, the written word stands reliable in reflecting the truth offering clarity and learning.
In the face of censorship, the disappearance of critical thinking, and the erasure of reading and writing strengths in the digital age, it’s more important than ever to fight for the importance of writing. The books that continue to be challenged preserve our historical truths and remind us of the need to remain informed. As technology continues to change the ways we communicate, it is through written word we preserve these lessons and connect us in human experience. If we continue to allow the cherry picked stories that are told and the truths that are remembered we risk forgetting the very stories that were written for guidance. The written word is not just a tool to coast through school, it is the backbone of knowledge and a testament of freedom. In defending literature we protect humanity’s consciousness, the right to continued societal growth and the power of human connection.
emily unfiltered 