Seoul Citizens Use Video Information Such as YouTube 68.8% More Than 5 Years Ago

Seoul Institute of Technology Research, Survey on Reading Activities of Seoul Citizens

As a result of a survey conducted by the Seoul Institute of Technology on 1,037 Seoul citizens, it was revealed on the 7th that citizens recognize 'digital information' as reading, and compared to five years ago, the use of 'paper books' decreased by 50.7%, while the use of 'video information utilizing YouTube, etc.' increased by 68.8%, and 'reading information through internet searches' increased by 61.4%.

In particular, among Seoul citizens aged 10 to 30, the rate of recognizing 'internet-based information' as reading was 49% (teens), 30.8% (20s), and 30.6% (30s) for internet newspapers, respectively, which was higher than that of middle-aged and elderly groups. Similar results were observed for 'social networking services (SNS)' and 'videos such as YouTube.'

Meanwhile, the rate of using digital information at libraries was 73.1%, but the methods of use were primarily book searches (68.7%) and new book information searches (49.6%).

Additionally, examining the status of digital platforms provided by Seoul public libraries revealed that public libraries offer digital information through websites, applications, and SNS; however, since the operating entities of each library differ, there are disparities in the quantity and quality of reading services provided.

Accordingly, the Seoul Institute of Technology proposed measures such as 'providing integrated services (websites, applications, materials, etc.) beyond library barriers' and 'proactive operation utilizing big data and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies,' including customized book notifications tailored to life cycles, to resolve disparities in information provision.

Im Seong-eun, director of the Seoul Institute of Technology, stated, “It is necessary to advance Seoul’s reading services to suit the smartly transformed digital environment and citizen demands,” adding, “The measures proposed by the institute are expected to enhance citizens’ utilization of reading information and contribute to improving reading rates.”