The widespread adoption of digital media has contributed to the decline of print media. Fewer people buy newspapers, libraries are occupied less frequently, and fewer people are reading books. This shift between print and digital media has been ongoing since the expansion of the internet in the late twentieth century and early twenty-first century. COVID-19 was a big factor in this decline as everything went online, and even after the pandemic, the trend of physical media has not recovered.

   With the expansion of online media, the demand for newspapers has dropped. According to a research database, “The decline of newspapers is a significant trend marked by decreasing circulation and advertising revenues, which have been notably declining since the 1990s. …the rise of the Internet has fundamentally changed how people access news, with many opting for free online sources over print media” (ebsco.com). Newspapers aren’t the most convenient option for people to read about events anymore, with people turning to online informants instead, as they are more accessible. The transition to online media also poses a large threat to the newspaper industry. A report published by EBSCO stated, “…some newspapers have transitioned to online-only formats or implemented paywalls to generate revenue, though success in these areas has been inconsistent” (ebsco.com). The continued adoption of online news sources, especially with younger generations, signifies that the use of physical newspapers may be coming to an end.

   Newspapers are not the only form of print that has been impacted by social and digital media. Consumption of books and libraries has greatly decreased. The Journal of Librarianship stated, “The Covid-19 pandemic of 2020–2021 accelerated a long-term trend of declining print book use in academic libraries. At Seton Hall University, recovery has been slow, with both checkouts and in-house use still well below pre-COVID levels. Use of the physical library has also decreased. The decrease in print book use is especially notable among students” (sciencedirect.com). During the pandemic, physical media was not attainable, which led to massive drops in library activity. People relied on using the internet instead, and since the end of the pandemic, this trend has remained as people have acclimated to the ease of internet access, which made physical copies pointless.

   An article from ABC News said, “Fewer Americans are opening a book for fun each day, with reading for pleasure in the United States down 40 percent over the past 20 years, a new study finds” (abcnews.com). This decline in reading seems to be due to the ever-evolving online atmosphere that is overtaking the print industry. Junior Sophia Dudley said, “I’ve found that I, unfortunately, read less and am on my phone more. I wish I read as much as I used to, but picking up a book today is much harder due to the increase in cellphone usage.” This popular trend of reading less has even affected Dudley, who used to be an avid reader. She says even she has lost some of her passion for reading due to her phone. The rise of digital media seems to be slowly taking over print media, with people opting to go on their phones instead of reading books, magazines, or newspapers for fun.

   The widespread adoption of digital media has caused the drastic decline of old-fashioned print media. Newspapers are struggling to stay in business, magazines are almost obsolete, libraries are visited less frequently, and reading books has become a thing of the past. Although print media is declining, there is still hope for a revival of physical content. In our digital age, everything seems to have moved online, and reading the news or a novel on paper may become the escape from technology that people crave.