Reading on phones: Is it just as good for you as reading books?

Once upon a time, reading meant a paper book, a lamp, and maybe a bookmark made from a cereal box.

Now? It can mean a strong dose of blue light and a charging cable.

For a lot of parents, that shift can feel… weird. If your child is reading on a screen, isn’t it just more screen time? Are phones helping children read more—or pulling them away from reading altogether?

Like most things with kids and technology, the answer is: it depends.

Parents are right to wonder whether reading on phones is helping or hurting. The truth is—it depends on the environment, not just the screen. But science does have a few clear things to say.

What the research says

Here’s what the data says about kids, reading, and screens:

• Only 14% of U.S. 13-year-olds said they read for fun “almost every day” in 2023—down from 27% just a decade ago.
  
• Reading on paper beats screens for comprehension, especially for longer or more complex texts.
  
• Kids who read more for fun also score higher in reading achievement—even after adjusting for background factors.
  

The takeaway? It’s not about banning phones or forcing books—it’s about shaping an environment where reading is easy to choose and rewarding to stick with.

From paper pages to pocket libraries: The evolution of reading

Reading has always changed with technology. Scrolls became bound books. Hardcovers became paperbacks. Paperbacks turned into ebooks and audiobooks.

The biggest difference today is the devices available to read on. A single device can now hold thousands of books. But it can also hold games, messages, videos, and a hundred other things competing for attention.

So reading for today’s kids doesn’t always look like curling up with a novel. It might look like finishing a chapter on a phone while waiting for practice to end. Or listening to an audiobook on the bus. Or bouncing between a physical book at night and a digital version during the day.

That flexibility can be a gift. It can also be a lot to manage.

Are kids reading more—or less—because of phones?

On paper (pun intended), access has never been better. Books are instant, adjustable, searchable, and often free through digital library apps. You’d think that would naturally lead to more reading.

Sometimes it does. But screens also come with competition.

Phones are really good at grabbing attention. Even adults struggle to read when notifications keep popping up. For kids—whose focus is still developing—that tug-of-war is even harder.

That’s why many parents might notice patterns such as reading sessions that don’t last very long, more skimming than getting lost in a story, and kids giving up on longer books more quickly. Shortening attention spans can add to this even more.

It’s not because books on a screen is a bad way to read in itself. But reading needs some amount of isolation to be effective, and phones come with a lot of options for how someone can fill their spare moments.

Reading on phones vs. paper books: What really matters

Here’s the part that often gets missed: the format matters less than the experience.

Kids tend to get the most out of reading when:

• They can focus without interruptions.
  
• The content actually fits their reading level and interests.
  
• Reading feels fun—not like a chore.
  

Ideas to help your kids read

For some kids, a physical book is all they need. For others, an ebook with adjustable text is more enticing. And for even more, an audiobook will finally make stories click.

We’ve been reading to our kids since they were newborns. We started with chapter books straight out of the gate. Even though our oldest was just a few months old, he didn’t mind. 

He was happy to listen to our voices—even if he had no idea what we were saying—and we were happy to instill in him a love for reading. Only it seemed we hadn’t instilled a love for reading, but listening. 

A decade later and he reacts to a book similarly to how a vampire might react to garlic. On the other hand, if we turn on an audiobook, he won’t stop listening without intervention. He’ll happily lose an entire day to listening to a book (as an added bonus, he’s also much more willing to do his chores while listening to something!) 

Audiobooks work for him and that’s fine with us. We’d accepted that our kid just wasn’t into reading. At least until we took a risk and got him a Kindle—a gift I expected to be the functional equivalent of a paper weight. I was unbelievably wrong. 

Since receiving his ereader, my son has read one-thousand pages a week— when a physical book or even books on a locked-down kids tablet couldn’t do the trick. It turns out all he needed was a little cool tech, no distractions, and a way to track his progress. 

A lot of strong readers don’t stick to just one format. They move between them depending on energy, mood, or the moment—and that flexibility can be the thing that keeps reluctant readers reading at all.

Why library apps make such a difference

Today, one of the game-changers in modern reading is digital libraries.

Apps like Libby and Sora let kids borrow ebooks and audiobooks instantly through their school or local library.

That means that when a child gets curious about a book right now, they don’t have to wait for a library trip or for a parent to remember to grab it later. When reading is easier to start, it’s more likely to happen.

How reading fits on a Gabb Phone

Gabb Phones don’t include social media or an open internet browser. That changes things. Without feeds constantly competing for attention, reading apps have room to breathe.

On Gabb Phone Pro, parents can approve library reading apps like Libby and Sora—without the usual distractions that come with traditional smartphones. For families who choose to use reading apps this way, it can means:

• Fewer interruptions mid-chapter.
  
• Easier access to library books.
  
• A phone that supports reading instead of fighting it.

And if your child isn’t quite there yet, the Gabb Phone and Gabb Watch can support traditional reading simply by allowing communication with less distractions.

It’s not about pushing kids to read on their phones. It’s about making sure that if they do, the phone isn’t working against them.

The future of reading is hybrid

Reading isn’t going away. It’s just showing up in more places.

Kids today might read a physical book at bedtime, listen to an audiobook while doing chores, and read an ebook while waiting in line. Tech today means families have more options. And more responsibility.

The goal of reading hasn’t changed: help kids build a relationship with stories, ideas, and learning that lasts. How they get there can look different.

Final thought for parents

If reading on phones makes you pause, you’re not overreacting. That instinct makes sense. But you don’t have to reject modern reading altogether to protect your child.

A good question to ask is this: Does this device make reading easier or harder for my child? When technology lowers the barrier to books without adding noise, reading can still thrive—even in your child’s pocket.

Do you have thoughts on how your family handles reading—digital, paper, or somewhere in between?

We’d love to hear what’s working (or not!) in your home. Share your experience in the comments.