Survey Scope and Demographics Show Youth Focus The study sampled 4,311 respondents from Kolkata and North 24 Parganas, conducted by the Sabar Institute and Sarojini Naidu College for Women. Half of participants were aged 18‑24, 14 % were 10‑17, and the remaining 31 % fell in the 25‑34 bracket, providing a clear picture of youth reading trends[1]. The survey combined urban and rural residents to capture diverse media habits[1].

Reading Frequency Drops Significantly After Age Twenty Among 17‑24‑year‑olds, 35 % read only occasionally while just 25 % read daily, indicating a sharp decline from younger cohorts[1]. In contrast, 40 % of 10‑17‑year‑olds reported daily reading and 30 % only occasionally[1]. For adults 25‑34, 40.6 % read only occasionally and only 18 % read daily, underscoring reduced engagement with books as age increases[1].

Social Media Consumption Outpaces Reading, Especially Among Females Over 40 % of females aged 18‑24 spend more than two hours daily on social media, compared with 36 % of males in the same group[1]. Among 10‑17‑year‑olds, 33 % of boys exceed two hours of daily social‑media use versus 31 % of girls[1]. These figures highlight that short‑form video and platform use dominate leisure time for young people, particularly females.

Student Status Influences Phone Use and Genre Preference Roughly 35 % of student respondents reported more than two hours of daily phone use, with an additional 32 % using phones for one to two hours; non‑students reported lower usage at 30 % and 29 % respectively[1]. Students favored fiction, literature and poetry, while non‑students leaned toward sports, entertainment and fiction titles[1]. Gender differences showed males preferring sports, entertainment and fiction, whereas females showed greater interest in academic and literary works[1].