Drifting Towards Digital Media
Times have changed. Our technology has developed substantially and, in recent decades, there has been a subsequent shift in how people read and digest literature as a result. With the introduction of audiobooks, e-books and online articles and serialisations; readers are shifting their attention towards digital platforms over traditional print media. This has not only affected the publishing industry, but changed how readers but transformed how authors connect with their audiences and how literature is viewed globally.
There are a number of reasons for the shift towards digital media, but one of the biggest is convenience. The internet has made it easier than ever to find and access large amounts of both fiction and non-fiction writing. Search engines and online stores have made it an extremely simple matter for a reader to find literature of the variety they are interested in. Meanwhile, author websites and social media have similarly made it easy to not only interact with authors and find their work but to stay up-to-date on any given creator’s progress and newest releases.
The portability of devices such as e-readers, smartphones and tablets is also a factor here. A person can now easily carry hundreds of audiobooks, books, comics and other media with them in their pocket. If they finish a book they are currently reading while out and about, they can easily select a new one from their own personal library or even purchase a new option then and there without ever setting foot in a bookstore. This even frees up space in increasingly small living spaces.
Focusing on digital media also tends to be more affordable for both readers and writers. While the initial expense of an e-reader or a smart device is certainly greater than the cost of a book, most people are already carrying around a smart phone or tablet and the cost of ebooks being much lower than print means that the difference spent on an e-reader can quickly be made up for. This is before factoring in the wealth of free writing available online through social media or websites like this one. Creating digital media is also typically much cheaper for authors and publishers, as they remove the costs of printing and shipping to distributors from the equation entirely. This is a big part of why ebooks are typically cheaper than their physical counterparts, they don’t need to offset those production costs and are more appealing to money conscious consumers as a result.
Digital media is also much more accessible to consumers on mass in other ways too. Not only is there copious amounts of cheaper writing available in digital formats, but individuals with disabilities or impairments that make reading traditional printed media difficult can more easily consume and enjoy digitally released content. On a device like an e-reader or smart phone; font and font-size can be more easily altered or simply zoomed in on and the colour of the text or the page it is on can be similarly customised. This can make reading much more comfortable for people with vision impairments. Similarly, it is often a lot easier to scroll on a device than to hold a book and turn pages with some physical disabilities that affect motor function and mobility. Audiobooks take this accessibility a step further by removing the need to physically interact with your media of choice entirely once the audio is playing.
An increasing awareness of and concern about damage to the climate and environment is also a factor in the growing popularity of digital literature, especially in younger demographics. The reality is that printing books en masse is, like many of our industries, harmful to natural ecosystems. The amount of paper required to produce physical books necessitates large amounts of deforestation. This deforestation, in addition to the printing and manufacturing process itself, then also contributes further to carbon emissions and also reduces our buffer against those emissions. In a world where we are increasingly conscientious about sustainability, digital media has a less destructive environmental impact than print which can make it more appealing.
The fact is that there are quite a few distinct advantages digital media has over traditionally printed books, magazines etc. Lower production costs (and subsequently lower costs for consumers), greater accessibility to content and a less damaging impact on the climate and environment are all factors worth considering. These advantages have caused an increasing shift in favour of digital media in the market, and it’s easy to see why. People are simply beginning to value these advantages over the tactile experience of physically reading a book or the satisfaction of looking at a well-stocked bookshelf.
Of course, while I do think that the focus is going to continue to shift more and more in favour of digital media (and with valid reason), I also don’t think traditionally printed books are going away any time soon either. There is still satisfaction to be had in owning and reading physical books, especially for older generations that are less inclined towards interacting with digital media. But there has definitely been a marked shift in how books are being both produced and advertised and I think it is worth taking note of and taking advantage of that shift.
I don’t think we’re ever going to see a day where print media is entirely gone - which I am personally happy about as someone who enjoys holding a paperback in my hands and having a well-stocked bookshelf. But I do think that audiobooks, ebooks and the like are going to continue to become increasingly more prominent and will probably become the primary means by which people consume stories in the not too distant future. It’s a little sad to think about in some ways perhaps but, given all the advantages to digital media, this may well be a good thing.
