From Screen Speed to Cognitive Depth
In the digital age, where information flows at an infinite speed at our fingertips, we are increasingly losing our ability to process and deeply engage with it. The instant gratification provided by short-form content, or constantly jumping from one topic to another, keeps our brains in a state of continuous stimulation; as a result, our patience for long and demanding texts diminishes. These short contents bring along issues such as lack of focus and attention disorder. Despite all this, keeping our screen time under control was manageable up to a certain point; however, today many individuals are aware of their dependency, normalize it, and this situation is gradually becoming uncontrollable. What has evolved from an individual preference into a collective habit is reshaping our brain’s cognitive patterns, and we begin to view real life with the same scrolling speed. Yet what we lose in this cognitive superficiality is our patience and the meaningful connections built through it. This is where deep reading emerges as a way to silence digital noise and reconstruct the mind.
Deep reading is not only about understanding words, but about entering the text and building a connection with our inner world. Some researchers, such as Maryanne Wolf, have conducted studies on deep reading. According to Wolf, humans are not born to read; there is no specific region in the brain dedicated to reading. Instead, the brain forms new connections by recycling information between visual and language centers. Through these pathways, we engage in reading by activating processes such as critical thinking, analysis, and reasoning. As Wolf describes, novice readers require years to develop these skills, whereas in expert readers these processes occur within milliseconds. This shows that reading is a skill that can be developed. However, in today’s digital world, we are experiencing a regression in this area. Even if we are technically expert readers, the speed and brevity of screens pull us back to a novice level. Instead of deeply processing information, we skim through it and move on. If our reading habits are limited to fast and scrollable content, the brain begins to simplify its ability to analyze deeply. This transforms us into readers who avoid complex sentences and fail to grasp the essence of a text. The strongest ability of an expert reader—forming a connection with the text—is replaced by the urgency imposed by digital environments. Therefore, deep reading is not just a preference but a mental exercise necessary to preserve our analytical and empathetic abilities.
Our most important defense against this cognitive superficiality brought by the digital age is to retrain our minds for depth. Of course, it is impossible to suddenly engage with heavy philosophical texts after long exposure to screens. Just like an athlete starts training with lighter weights, we can rebuild our reading habits with engaging and fluid texts that do not overwhelm the mind. Starting with shorter books can help break this cycle. The most important step to regain our mental depth is to turn to works that draw us directly into life with clear and simple language. Such works can serve as ideal guides to reactivate our deep reading skills.
Cengiz Aytmatov’s Jamilia presents a love story set in the steppes, engaging the reader without exhaustion. With Aytmatov’s descriptive strength, it allows us to escape digital superficiality and take a deep breath. Sabahattin Ali’s Madonna in a Fur Coat (or Kuyucaklı Yusuf) helps overcome focus problems with its fluid narrative. Perhaps what we truly need is not a new technology, but a book that leaves us alone with ourselves.
Aslı Şahin
Yücel Cultural Foundation
Volunteer Writer