The Criticism Of Digital Reading From The Perspective Of Media Ecology

Reading is the main way for human to acquire knowledge and increase their intelligence.Nowadays,with the continuous development of digital media,the history of reading has opened up a new chapter.Digital reading has gradually become the mainstream way of reading.The development of digital reading in China began in the mid and late 1990 s.From the initial personal computer reading,to the professional e-reader reading,to the tablet reading and the mobile reading,the development of new technology has brought unprecedented new reading experience to people.However,when enjoying the benefits brought by digital reading,we should also be vigilant and avoid the adverse effects.From the perspective of media ecology,this paper examines the characteristics and negative effects of digital reading.Firstly,from the perspective of diachronic evolution of the media,this paper analyzes the characteristics of reading in the clay age,papyrus age,parchment era and printing paper age.Secondly,the characteristics of the representational,popular,fragmented and socialized reading of digital reading are discussed from the angle of the static bias of the media.Then it analyzes the negative effects of digital reading.Specifically,the harm caused by the digital reading to the individual includes: the defects in high-level cognitive process,the lack of critical ability,the information overload,the fragmentation of knowledge,the decline of the ability to focus and the ability of reflection.The harm caused by digital reading to society include: individualized push causes society "information cocoon room",reading socializing causes group loneliness,fast-food reading and "smartphone addicts" affect a nation's overall temperament and spiritual style.Finally,this paper puts forward the concrete and feasible ways to promote the benign development of digital reading.First,we must always guard against "extreme digitalism" and build a harmonious man-machine synergy relationship.Then,advocate "slow reading" learning concept and life style.Next,we should pay attention to information transformation,advocate high level reading,and forge deep cognition and thinking ability.Last but not the least,we should enhance citizens' network literacy,media literacy and information literacy.