I’m the mother of an 11-year-old. She’s not quite a teen-- more of a tween--but I can tell you her favorite activities are Minecraft, Harry Potter and reading. This kid is a voracious reader. At any one time, she is reading 3 to 5 books. Her bed is generally littered with her books and let’s not even discuss visiting the local bookstore. My wallet can’t take it.

As a member of the iGeneration, one would assume she would prefer reading on her iPad or e-reader. The answer would be she prefers physical books and she’s not alone. Research shows that teens prefer physical books. Now, you must be thinking that can’t be right in the age of Snapchat and Instagram. Let me break it down for you.

According to research conducted by Melbourne’s Deakin University and Perth’s Murdoch University “We surveyed around 550 teenagers and interviewed about 40 in depth, and found that while some are using digital e-readers, the majority say they preferred real, printed books,” says Dr. Leonie Rutherford.

“The teenagers commented they appreciated the physical and sensory lure of a real book and said printed texts are often more accessible and easier to handle than e-books. Those who we spoke to in-depth said they prefer the feel of a real object and the fact they can own a book and put it on the shelf.”

Part of my daughter’s nightly routine includes reading herself to sleep. As a mom, I probably wouldn’t be a fan of an e-reader because looking at a screen before you go to bed can negatively impact your sleep. I can’t get her to wake up as is so I don’t need any additional help. Multiple studies have indicated looking at an e-reader or iPad or mobile phone impedes your ability to go to sleep.

Now, I’ve never pushed physical books or iPads as a preferred method for reading. The choice has always been hers. As a child that has never experienced a time without mobile phones or tablets, she wants physical books and the stats back up that she’s not alone.  Nielson BookScan numbers from 2014 revealed the main reasons why teens buy books: “I’ve enjoyed author’s previous books” ranked No. 1, followed by “browsing in libraries” and “browsing in bookstores,” which both ranked above “online bookseller websites.” “In-store displays” also ranked above hearing about a book through a social network.

The proof is in the paper. Teens prefer the written word on paper over digital e-readers.

For more stats and industry insights, visit Print Works!