Children Prefer Audiobooks Over Reading for the First Time, Study Finds

National Literacy Trust research highlights a decline in reading for pleasure as audio content gains popularity among young people.

A National Literacy Trust survey found that 42.3% of children aged 8-18 enjoyed listening to audio content in 2024, surpassing the 34.6% who enjoyed reading for pleasure.
This marks the first time since 2020 that more children reported favoring audio formats like audiobooks and podcasts over traditional reading.
The study suggests audiobooks could serve as a gateway to reading, with 37.5% of respondents saying they became interested in books after listening to audiobooks.
The gender gap in reading enjoyment persists, with only 28.2% of boys enjoying reading compared to 40.5% of girls, though more boys (43.4%) than girls (40.4%) reported enjoying audio formats.
The National Literacy Trust and educators are urging the government to incorporate diverse formats, including audiobooks, into the school curriculum to address the ongoing decline in reading for pleasure.