Paper Still Beats Screens for Deeper Reading

Where smartphones, laptops, and tablets are everyday tools for work, news, reports, and online research, many people wonder: Is reading on a screen as good as reading on paper?

The latest studies from 2024 and 2025 show a small but real advantage for paper, often called the screen inferiority effect. Several studies find that people understand and remember complex information better when reading print than on screens like phones or computers. This holds especially for long, detailed texts, such as reports, articles, legal documents, or professional reading, where you need to grasp details and connect ideas.

Why? According to researchers, paper gives a physical sense of the page. You can flip back easily, see the layout, and your brain builds a stronger map of the content. Screens encourage quick skimming, scrolling, and distractions from notifications, which can make processing shallower.

For short news, emails, social media posts, or fun stories, screens work just fine, and sometimes even better for speed and search. But reach for paper or a book when depth and retention matter most. Source - Current Affairs