O impacto das redes sociais no hábito de leitura dos estudantes universitários

Abstract

Social media networks have integrated the reality of the new generation since birth. Known as Generation Z composed of individuals born, on average, between the second half of the 1990s and 2010 they are frequently classified as digital natives, and this presence is equally expressive within the academic environment. In a scenario where digital media is in constant expansion, social networks directly impact young people in their interpersonal and academic relationships, as well as their reading habits, acting sometimes as an incentive and other 9 times as a source of distraction. Given this reality, the present study aimed to analyze the impact of social media on the reading habits of university students at UFPB Campus III. The research followed a qualitative and descriptive approach; for data collection and analysis, 12 undergraduate students from the Business Administration and Pedagogy programs were interviewed. The results revealed an ambiguity in the influence of social media on reading habits: while they promote quick access to diverse information and content, they also reduce the time dedicated to deep reading and cause concentration deficits due to excessive use. Therefore, there is a clear need to promote integration strategies between faculty and students, aiming to maximize digital benefits, strengthen literary engagement, and mitigate challenges. Among the obstacles faced by students in the academic environment are cognitive load (attention fragmentation), "skimming" (surface reading), infoxication (information overload), technological procrastination, and a decline in writing and spelling skills.