Digital illiteracy: young people who write and think poorly.

We live in a cultural paradox: we have never had so much access to information and, at the same time, so little ability to interpret it. People write incessantly in posts , messages, and comments, but rarely do they think clearly. The new illiteracy is not the inability to read or write, but the inability to argue, interpret contexts, distinguish facts from opinions, and structure ideas coherently. Worse: it is the inability to doubt.

A people who do not read deeply do not think critically, and those who do not think critically are more vulnerable to manipulation. According to PISA 2022, the Programme for International Student Assessment, promoted by the OECD, Portugal faces a worrying decline in literacy: young people dropped 20 points in mathematics (472) and 15 in reading (477), with 30% lacking minimum skills in mathematics and 23% in reading. Although close to the OECD average, these numbers reflect a setback of almost 15 years.

But the problem goes beyond statistics: first, it's political, a reflection of years of failed education policies—years of socialist policies that, while well-intentioned, were a failure; then it's cultural. Many young people, shaped by the pursuit of immediate stimulation and instant gratification, see long reading as a sacrifice and clear writing as an obstacle. Deep thinking is, for some, almost irrelevant. Schools, pressured by targets, have abandoned the formation of critical citizens. Complex thought has given way to simplistic presentations, essays have been replaced by multiple-choice tests, and debates by slogans . The result is visible on social media and even in universities: young people who write carelessly, confuse emotion with reason, and react without understanding. Language has become impoverished, vocabulary has shrunk, and grammar has succumbed to haste. This generation is not the only one to blame. It has been betrayed by an educational system that has ceased to demand rigor, by a culture that values ​​feeling above reason, and by adults who prefer to be influencers rather than role models.

However, all is not lost. In PISA 2022, Portugal fared better in financial literacy, scoring 494 points, close to the OECD average, but still far from an acceptable level, with 85% of young people reaching the minimum proficiency level. This proves that, with focus and bridges between educational policies, it is possible to develop solid skills. The cost of this digital illiteracy is democratic. Those who cannot interpret a text will not understand an electoral program. Those who do not argue clearly will be easy prey for slogans. Those who do not write well will hardly think freely. Literacy is not a luxury; it is a condition of sovereignty. A country without critical readers is a country less prepared to defend itself. Correcting this course requires concrete actions: reintroducing critical writing into curricula, promoting accessible digital libraries, and encouraging debate in the classroom. Reading slowly is an act of resistance. Thinking rigorously is a political gesture. Teaching people to write well is perhaps the greatest investment in a free future. This text is not a judgment, but an urgent appeal. If we don't act, we will create citizens who are able to click, but less capable of making decisions. Education is our last possible revolution.