In 2019, people began questioning the effect of constant screen-watching and social media on their own lives and on their children’s education. In response, industry voices began asking whether a “digital backlash” was on the horizon.
Six years on, the picture is clearer: there hasn’t been a mass exodus from social media or digital tools. In fact, social media use is still very high.
That said, there’s a growing movement — especially in schools — toward setting healthier boundaries, and we’re witnessing a fresh appreciation for the unique benefits of print on paper. Where? Let’s take a look at research conducted in the north of the country that, more than any other, has poisoned the world with the internet in the first place. It seems clear we, too, need to move from screen-based education back toward more traditional education.
Let’s take a look at an article published by Two Sides. Is there a shift back from digital to paper happening in Europe and America? What’s going on in schools and in the virtual world?
The evidence shows that heavy social media use is continuing, with pauses and shifts rather than an overall decline in platform popularity. A January 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that 83% of US adults use YouTube, 68% use Facebook, roughly half use Instagram, and nearly a third use TikTok. These figures are slightly higher than in previous years, pointing to modest growth. Social media use is even more widespread among young people. A July 2025 Pew fact sheet shows that roughly 7 in 10 US teens visit YouTube every day, with 15% doing so “almost constantly,” while 57% use TikTok daily.
There’s little sign that social media engagement is declining; rather, we’re seeing platform shifts. For example, teen use of Facebook and X is far lower than a decade ago, while YouTube and TikTok dominate. Based on this usage, there’s growing concern — particularly around time spent and mental-health effects for heavy young users — and it’s shaping policy debate, but this isn’t a user-driven abandonment. In other words, usage remains high, but public scepticism and regulatory interest are clearly rising.
What are we learning about technology in the classroom?
In education, we’re seeing a meaningful effort to limit smartphones and rethink “fully digital” approaches. This has led to a rapid rise in smartphone bans in schools. UNESCO reported that around 60 education systems worldwide (30%) had laws or policies banning smartphone use in schools in 2023. By the end of 2024, that number had risen to 79 systems (roughly 40%) — a clear sign of a global trend toward restricting phones in the school environment.
There’s a clear, research-backed trend toward limiting smartphone use in classrooms. This isn’t a return to a pre-digital world — it’s an acknowledgement that unrestricted access to phones can negatively affect attention, learning and wellbeing.
Beyond phones, some education systems and schools are re-evaluating how far to take digital textbooks and one-to-one devices:
In Finland, after years of promoting laptops in classrooms, the town of Riihimäki returned to printed textbooks in many subjects, citing concerns about distraction and focus. Teachers and students report improved reading and concentration since returning to books.
A 2024 report by Bay View Analytics, covered by Inside Higher Ed, found that even as digital options become more widespread, a large majority of university professors believe printed textbooks are more effective than digital ones. Education researchers are also raising concerns about moving to digital-only educational materials. A 2025 Education Next article argues that as schools replace well-structured printed textbooks with fragmented digital resources, teaching and learning suffer — particularly for struggling students who benefit from coherent, sequential printed materials.
None of this means schools are “anti-technology.” Rather, it reflects growing recognition that printed textbooks and printed materials provide structure, reliability and cognitive advantages that many digital tools still struggle to match.
Research on reading on paper versus screens
New studies continue to find that reading on paper has subtle but significant advantages, particularly for deeper comprehension. A comprehensive study conducted by researchers at the University of Valencia, published in late 2023 and summarised by Axios, drew on data from more than 450,000 participants and found that reading printed text is more strongly associated with reading comprehension than digital reading.
In 2024, a meta-analysis of dozens of studies found that students consistently scored higher on comprehension tests when reading on paper compared with screens. This is often described as the “screen inferiority effect.” According to the study, screens can affect the time we spend with content, as well as physical factors like eye strain and built-in distractions like notifications or pop-ups. All of this can lead to a lack of focus or comprehension.
Recent research shows that screens are well suited to quick information, short text and interactive exercises, but that paper remains superior for sustained, focused reading and deep learning, particularly for students still developing core literacy and study skills.
For Two Sides North America, this supports what many teachers, parents and professors have long said anecdotally: paper isn’t nostalgia — it’s a proven learning tool. Print and digital can coexist.
Digital use is widespread and heavy, and the public clearly isn’t asking for a digital reset or the wholesale abandonment of devices
But if we redefine a “digital reset” as rebalancing our relationship with technology — particularly for children and students — that desire becomes far more evident.
In recent years, policymakers, educators and parents have become increasingly willing to limit smartphone use in schools. As school systems have realised that screens weren’t delivering the benefits they promised, they’ve begun trying to return to printed textbooks. New research, meanwhile, continues to highlight the cognitive and educational advantages of printed materials for comprehension and retention.
At Two Sides North America, we believe this isn’t about being “pro-digital” or “anti-digital.” What matters is choice, balance and evidence.
Digital tools are powerful, especially when used mindfully. But they don’t replace everything. For structured, consistent access to information — and for focused learning and deep reading — nothing has yet replaced paper.