The Screen Experiment on Our Children Has Failed: Is It Too Late to Reverse the Damage?

 For more than a decade, Western education systems have pursued an ambitious transformation: integrating digital devices into classrooms at scale. Tablets replaced textbooks in many schools, handwritten work gave way to typed assignments, and online platforms became central to lesson delivery. Policymakers described this screen shift as modernisation, arguing that digital tools would personalise learning and better prepare students for a technology-driven future.

However, some of the countries that most enthusiastically embraced classroom digitisation are now reassessing that strategy.

Sweden, often cited as a leader in digital-first education, has begun reintroducing printed textbooks and reducing mandatory screen use for younger pupils. Swedish education officials have acknowledged concerns about declining reading comprehension and attention, particularly in early primary years. The reassessment follows several years of disappointing literacy results, including measurable declines in international comparisons.

Sweden’s policy adjustment reflects a growing body of research suggesting that reading on paper supports stronger comprehension than reading on screens. Numerous cognitive science studies have found that readers tend to retain information more effectively from printed texts, while digital formats are associated with faster reading but lower recall and reduced depth of processing.

Screen-based environments often involve hyperlinks, multimedia elements and visual distractions that encourage skimming rather than sustained analysis. While such features may enhance engagement, they can also reduce the level of cognitive immersion required for complex reading tasks.

Educators in Sweden have concluded that early learners in particular benefit from physical books, structured texts and reduced digital interruption. The decision marks a significant shift from the earlier assumption that increasing digital exposure would automatically improve educational outcomes....<<<Read More>>>...