#Digitalmedia

A new study indicates Americans have reached a record low for leisure reading, signaling a shift in how people—especially younger generations—spend their free time. The findings raise questions about the long-term effects on literacy, language development, and civic engagement, even as technology and streaming dominate daily life. For Thai readers, the report serves as a timely mirror: it highlights the fragile balance between digital entertainment and the quiet, reflective habit of reading that underpins education, culture, and mental well-being.

As parents in Thailand and around the world grapple with how much “screen time” is too much for their children, new research and expert opinions are challenging our traditional understanding of what counts as screen time, especially in the era of podcasts, audiobooks, and smart speakers. With children now exposed to a wide range of digital media from an early age—not just tablets and televisions, but also audio-only content—educators, health professionals, and parents are wrestling with an urgent question: Is listening to a podcast the same as watching YouTube, and should it count towards children’s daily screen time limits?

A shift in how Thai families use media is reshaping ideas about screen time. New research suggests audio-only content such as podcasts and storytelling shows can support child development beyond simply limiting screen exposure.

The topic resonates in Thailand, where device access is expanding, especially in urban areas. Traditional guidelines from the Ministry of Public Health have focused on reducing time spent in front of screens, but experts now stress the differences between media types. The question arises: should listening to a podcast count the same as watching videos, and how should it affect daily screen time limits?

A new commentary published in Psychology Today proposes that storytelling is not just a cultural practice but a central mechanism through which human beings seek meaning, transmit values, and retain memories—a perspective supported by recent psychological research and resonant in societies worldwide, including Thailand. The analysis, reflecting on perspectives from noted psychiatrist Viktor E. Frankl and memory pioneer Hermann Ebbinghaus, underscores that the stories we tell—whether in families, classrooms, or broader media—profoundly shape our sense of identity, purpose, and well-being. As digital media reshapes how stories are shared, deliberation grows about the social quality of today’s storytelling and its effects on collective and individual meaning.

Storytelling goes beyond entertainment. It is a central mechanism through which people seek meaning, pass values, and preserve memories. This concept aligns with current psychology research and holds relevance for Thai communities as well. The discussion revisits Viktor E. Frankl’s will to meaning and memory pioneer Hermann Ebbinghaus, emphasizing how the stories we share—in families, classrooms, and the media—shape identity, purpose, and well-being. As digital platforms broaden how stories travel, scholars question the social quality of today’s narratives and their impact on individual and collective meaning.