{"id":30355,"date":"2026-07-19T11:05:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T11:05:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swn.af\/en\/?p=30355"},"modified":"2026-07-19T11:11:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T11:11:04","slug":"youth-turn-to-digital-books-easy-access-but-health-and-reading-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swn.af\/en\/2026\/07\/youth-turn-to-digital-books-easy-access-but-health-and-reading-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"Youth turn to digital books; easy access, but health and reading challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"

A number of youth interviewed by Salam Watandar say that easy access, lower costs, time savings, and the free availability of digital books (PDFs) have driven them to turn to digital reading.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For this report, 29 youth from 12 provinces were interviewed. Among the participants, 16 were men and 13 were women, aged 18 to 35. They have been using digital books for between one and 10 years.<\/p>\n

Abdul Salam, a 23-year-old resident of Kabul and a second-year economics student, says he has been using digital books for the past four years. He says their lower cost, easy access to a wide range of books, and the ability to read anytime and anywhere are among the main advantages of this method.<\/p>\n

“Easy access, lower costs, the ability to study anywhere, and quickly finding academic resources are the main reasons I use digital books. For a university student, this method is very practical and cost-effective. Its biggest advantages are quick access, the ability to search within books, lower costs, and the ability to easily carry thousands of books on a single device,” he says.<\/p>\n

Similarly, Rangina, a 20-year-old from Sar-e Pol, says reading digital books has helped her overcome some of the challenges caused by the lack of access to in-person educational centers and has allowed her to continue her studies.<\/p>\n

“I’ve been reading this way for about three years. Since it was not possible for me to continue in-person education, digital books have, to some extent, filled that gap and helped me stay connected to my studies and reading,” she says.<\/p>\n

The interviewees also say that, in addition to saving time and money, limited access to printed books has been another major reason why more youth are turning to digital books.<\/p>\n

Sayed Reza Saqeb, a 25-year-old from Nangarhar, says the shortage of printed books and their high prices are the main reasons he has turned to digital books.<\/p>\n

“I prefer digital books because some books are not available in the market, and even when they are available, they are expensive and printed in limited numbers,” he says.<\/p>\n

The youth interviewed use smartphones, laptops, and tablets to read digital books. Of the 29 participants, 16 use smartphones, seven use both smartphones and laptops, three use laptops, and three use tablets.<\/p>\n

Somaya, another 25-year-old from Badakhshan, who has been reading digital books for more than three years, says her smartphone is always within reach, so she spends most of her time using it and reads most of her books on it.<\/p>\n

“I usually use my smartphone to read digital books because I spend most of my time on it, and it is almost always within my reach,” she says.<\/p>\n

Rozbeh Farahmand, a 29-year-old from Kabul and a journalism graduate, says that because of the easy access to digital editions of literature and novels, he has been using a tablet for reading for the past eight years.<\/p>\n

“I’ve been reading books digitally for eight years. Up to now, I’ve read around 100 books this way. I mostly use a tablet because it has a larger screen, a longer battery life, and is easier to carry,” he says.<\/p>\n

The findings of this report show that most youth began reading digital books between one and four years ago, although some have been reading digitally for between five and 10 years.<\/p>\n

On average, the participants have read between 20 and 60 digital books, while some have read more than 100 books.<\/p>\n

They also say they spend, on average, between 30 minutes and two hours a day reading digital books.<\/p>\n

Qamaruddin, a 30-year-old from Jawzjan, says he has made digital reading part of his daily routine for nearly 10 years.<\/p>\n

“I’ve been reading digital books since 2015, and I’ve read more than a hundred books this way. I have studied many books through digital reading both during university and afterward, especially those related to reporting and online journalism. I always try to spend at least one hour every day reading,” he says.<\/p>\n

Although digital reading provides easier access to reading materials, it also comes with health risks and technical challenges.<\/p>\n

Among the 29 youth interviewed, 27 complained of eye fatigue and headaches. Among them, 17 said that the lack of electricity and difficulties charging smartphones and laptops were the main challenges, seven cited poor internet connectivity and difficulties downloading books, and five said that the digital versions of the books they needed were unavailable.<\/p>\n

Mehran Taherzai, an 18-year-old from Samangan who has been reading digital books for more than a year, says that prolonged digital reading has caused him eye fatigue and headaches.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I study for a long time without taking breaks, my eyes become tired, and I sometimes get headaches. That is why I try to take a short break every few hours,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Storai Mayar, a 24-year-old from Herat, also says, \u201cSome time ago, when I was reading electronic books, one of the negative effects I experienced was weakened eyesight, and I also developed headaches.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some education experts say that despite the expansion of technology and increased access to digital books, this method of reading also comes with some challenges. According to them, reading from screens may, in some cases, affect concentration and reading quality and may reduce youth’s interest in printed books. Jamaluddin Sulaimani, an education expert, says,<\/p>\n

\u201cIn today\u2019s world, we are dealing with digital platforms, and the digital world has entered the market. We have to use it, but despite the advantages it offers, it also has disadvantages. For example, we cannot always study carefully and properly, and it can affect our ability to concentrate mentally. Digital books are a good thing, but they have caused some people to abandon valuable books and stop reading them. Digital books can also cause mental distraction.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eye doctors (ophthalmologists) also warn that increased use of digital devices for reading\u2014particularly for long periods and without practicing proper eye hygiene\u2014can put eye health at risk.<\/p>\n

Nilofar Nawabi, an ophthalmologist, says prolonged use of smartphones and other digital devices for reading increases pressure on the eyes muscles and raises the risk of dry eyes, blurred vision, and weakened eyesight. She explains,<\/p>\n

\u201cReading on smartphones for long periods can cause eye fatigue, dry eyes, blurred vision, temporary vision weakness, and headaches. When someone uses a smartphone or computer for a long time, the eye muscles become tired, and the eyes may become dry. Because these devices have blue light, they can have negative effects on the eyes, which may lead to dryness. Spending several hours reading on a smartphone can also contribute to weakened vision.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mortaza Ahmadi, an eye surgeon, emphasizes the importance of maintaining the proper distance between the eyes and the screen. He says adjusting screen brightness and giving the eyes regular breaks are among the most effective ways to prevent damage caused by prolonged use of digital devices.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe screen should be about 50 to 70 centimeters away from the eyes and positioned slightly below eye level for greater comfort. The brightness should be adjusted so that it is neither too bright nor too dim. Individuals should not forget the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at an object about six meters away for 20 seconds to allow the eyes to rest. In particular, those who work on computers should blink more often to prevent dry eyes. If symptoms develop, they should consult a doctor and, if necessary, use artificial tears,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

According to statistics from the Ministry of Information and Culture of the Islamic Emirate, more than 100 public libraries have been established across Afghanistan. Rafiullah Samim, General Director of Public Libraries at the Ministry of Information and Culture, says,<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Public Library is a cultural institution that promotes a culture of reading by establishing libraries in cities and districts. Its goal is to provide students, teachers, religious scholars, and other literate members of society with access to academic and cultural resources. Public libraries are now operating across the country, and a total of 109 libraries have been established throughout Afghanistan to provide library services to citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, a review of studies published by researchers at the Swiss Distance University of Applied Sciences and the University of Bern found that E-Ink (electronic ink) displays provide greater comfort for long-term digital reading because they more closely resemble paper and reflect environment light instead of producing their direct light. Compared with LCD screens and smartphones, E-Ink displays are associated with significantly less eye fatigue.<\/p>\n

Reporter: Momina Zarif<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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