Many adults are concerned that today’s youth do not read anymore, worrying that social media and the internet have shortened the attention span of adolescents. This idea, however, is morphing into a new stereotype and is an oversimplified generalization lacking nuance. The progress of the digital age has allowed for more convenience in many aspects of life, reading being one of them.
Although modern teens may not be scuttling to their local library to flip through hand-held books, they are still avid readers. Webtoon, a popular app and website with the world’s largest selection of webcomics, has enthralled today’s youth and has them scrambling to finish stories.
For junior Katelynn Ng, the publication method of Webtoons is a factor that compels her to read on the app because of how it accommodates efficiency, typically publishing one chapter a week.
“It’s easier to read a single chapter on a weekly basis for a couple minutes than to find time to read a book, as that would generally take hours to finish,” Ng said.
Many, however, are quick to dismiss graphic novels as childish and incomparable to “legitimate” reading. SCHS library media assistant Carol Bamsch once shared this perspective. After comparing older publications to current trends, Bamsch supports students reading current ones.
“When I was younger, I would read Archie and Casper… now that I’m here and I see how good the (modern) graphic novels are and the stories that they tell, it’s really just another way of story-telling,” Bamsch said.
Bamsch further reflected on the hypocrisy of parents who call for “real” reading but do not themselves foster that nature in their children. Instead they often hand their children technology to keep them easily entertained.
“I always made a point to read to our kids every night,” Bamsch said. “If you read to your children, you can read to them two grade levels above their reading level, and they can learn from that… A lot of people don’t do that.”
Junior Jace Vu feels that reading Webtoons can even be more beneficial than traditional reading as it can teach readers lessons they can incorporate in their lives.
“I think Webtoons does a really good job at explaining how life is and how love works, or how you should be grateful for your friends,” Vu said. “Webtoons has a lot more life lessons to teach than the books I’ve read personally… I feel like the Webtoons were able to teach those lessons a little more strongly.”
The visual aspect of Webtoons also enraptured Vu as it aids in her appreciation of concepts she is unfamiliar with in stories, in this case, a historical tale about the medieval period.
“I’m very pleased by colors and photos… even vivid colors, especially when characters have unusual clothes on,” Vu said. “Actually seeing those bright colors as well as the very different clothes really appeals to me as a reader.”
Beyond the convenience and appreciation for the stories themselves, junior Ariel Maor shared that Webtoons offers a unique and engaging experience through discussion threads.
“I love the comments because after each episode or chapter, there’s the three top comments that have the most likes… I love reading them,” Maor said. “They’re either super funny, or they say what you feel and are relatable… It’s all very interactive.”
In today’s society, Webtoons are revolutionizing the way people engage with stories, and many feel they are more than just simple stories to be dismissed. Whether it is through their accessibility, the sense of community they foster or the life lessons they impart, Webtoons have created a platform for storytelling that resonates with teenagers today, possibly reshaping the landscape of reading for generations to come.
“In the future, there may be more Webtoons than hard-copy comics and graphic novels due to their accessibility and the growing trend of digital media,” Ng said.