The Silent Famine - Why We’re Failing Our Young Readers

This article by Greg Twemlow argues that young people are experiencing a decline in reading engagement and ability, which is more than just a test score issue; it represents a "silent famine" of the mind. The piece contends that digital devices are reprogramming attention and leading to a preference for consumption over deep engagement, causing a loss of belief in reading's value. Twemlow highlights that this literacy crisis is a human rights failure because it hinders independent thought and agency, leaving youth vulnerable to external agendas. He proposes initiatives like the "Stories That Connect" workshop as a way to restore reading as a source of identity, power, and belonging by encouraging students to author and share their own narratives. Ultimately, the author warns that failing to address this decline risks an intergenerational fracture where critical thinking and agency disappear. Read the article.About the Author - Greg Twemlow writes and teaches at the intersection of technology, education, and human judgment. He works with educators and businesses to make AI explainable and assessable in classrooms and boardrooms — to ensure AI users show their process and own their decisions. His cognition protocol, the Context & Critique Rule™, is built on a three-step process: Evidence → Cognition → Discernment — a bridge from what’s scattered to what’s chosen. Context & Critique → Accountable AI™. © 2025 Greg Twemlow. “Context & Critique → Accountable AI” and “Context & Critique Rule” are unregistered trademarks (™).