Amid Kolkata's famous book fair expecting over 25 lakh visitors, a new survey shows many young people read less and spend more time on social media. The study by Sabar Institute and Sarojini Naidu College involved 4,311 people aged 10 to 34 from Kolkata and nearby areas. It found 35% of 17-24-year-olds read books only sometimes. Just 25% of them read daily. In the 10-17 age group, nearly 40% read every day, and 30% occasionally. People aged 25-34 read the least, with 40.6% only occasional readers and just 18% daily readers. The survey also noted that social media use is high. In the 18-24 group, 40% of females and 36% of males spend more than two hours a day on social media. Boys aged 10-17 spend more time online than girls, with 33% versus 31%. Students use social media more than non-students. Over 35% of students spent more than two hours daily on their phones. Sabir Ahamed of Sabar Institute said, "Screen time has risen sharply in recent years, especially among young adults. COVID-related school closures pushed education online and dealt a serious blow to reading habits. Our study shows that heavy social media use (over two hours a day) and lack of easy access to books remain major barriers to reading." He added that the real issue is not a lack of libraries but a lack of friendly places that encourage reading. His initiative, Know Your Neighbour, started the Chair for the Reader programme to promote quiet group reading and digital focus. The survey revealed that students love fiction, literature, and poetry. Non-students prefer sports, entertainment, and fiction. Males mostly read sports and entertainment. Females showed more interest in academics and literature.