READERS OF OUR TIME

Аннотация

This article discusses the importance of reading in modern society, the distinctive features of contemporary readers, and the emerging new reading culture. It explores how the culture of reading has evolved over time, the influence of digital technologies on this sphere, and the role of books in enhancing the spirituality of young people. The article also offers suggestions for promoting reading habits. The main goal is to increase the love for books among today’s youth and contribute to the development of an educated society. The 21st century is the era of information, technology, the internet, and artificial intelligence. Humanity's progress has reached a new stage. Even in this era, the importance of books, knowledge, and reading has not diminished; instead, it is developing in new forms. The readers of our time are a generation growing up alongside the digital world, open to innovation,yet stillloyal to books. ReadingCulture: Past andPresent In the past, books were the primary source of knowledge. Schools, universities, and research centers all relied on books as the main means of learning. Libraries were considered centers ofknowledgeand were among the mostbeloved places forboth young andold. Today, however, the internet, e-books, and audiobooks have transformed this field. Nevertheless, the attitude towards books among today’s readers has not changed—only the format has. Contemporary readers have a wide range of choices. They can find any book online and read it on their phones or tablets. In addition to traditional libraries, they actively use electronic libraries and onlineresources, which provide greaterconvenience for readers. Advantages andChallenges ofDigital Reading Thanks to modern technologies, today's youth have access to vast amounts of information. E- books are among the greatest conveniences—they are easy to store, read, and highlight important sections. Audiobooks are also gaining popularity, allowing people to listen to bookswhile engaged inother activities. However, this situation brings certain challenges. Some young people have become page1820 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ISSN:2692-5206,ImpactFactor:12,23 AmericanAcademicpublishers,volume05,issue04,2025 Journal: https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai accustomed to reading only short posts on social media, developing impatience toward long texts.This limits theirdepthof thinkingand critical reasoning abilities. Readingas aMeasure ofCulture Books are not only sources of knowledge but also of upbringing, ethics, and worldview. No matter how modern today’s readers are, they preserve their spirituality and identity through books. It is encouraging that young people are increasingly interested in the masterpieces of Uzbek literature such as the works of Alisher Navoi, Abdulla Qodiriy, and Cho‘lpon. Many are also engaging with renowned works ofworld literature. A good reader is a good person. Reading fosters imagination, analytical skills, and critical thinking. Such young people develop into individuals who care about the fate of their homeland and the futureof theirnation. Promoting Reading —ACollective Responsibility Today, many projects are being implemented by our government to promote a culture of reading among youth. Initiatives such as "Young Reader" competitions, expanding the network of libraries, and improving access to electronic resources are bringing reading cultureto anew level. Families, schools, and communities must work together to teach young people to read more and select quality literature. We must cultivate the habit of daily reading, even if only a few pages, and set an exampleourselves.