How the Declining Literacy Rate is Affecting MY Roblox Gameplay

Introduction and Evidence

Being practically an adult comes with a lot of challenges. I have to drive, work, and do stuff that I don't like for the betterment of capitalism. But when I'm not doing those things--when I'm just enjoying my time and living life--I'm playing Roblox.

"But Roblox has predators!" "They're money-hungry and awful!" I know. I don't care. It's the easiest way to play multiplayer games with my friends and flex how much better I am because I grind while they're busy doing stupid extracurriculars. I mean, really, who needs to be in a band? (My three pianos glare at me judgingly from the other rooms.) There's also simple games I don't play with friends that are quick and easy word games, such as "Type a word that contains __" with a time limit.

And while I'm playing these games, I'm playing with a bunch of randos. This requires cooperation, communication, communism, correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Some people fail to deliver.

By some, I mean a lot. Actually, "Between 2017 and 2023, there [was an increase] in the [percentage] of adults performing at the lowest proficiency level... [in] literacy". This means that overall, adults are worse at reading, writing, and/or interpreting and reflecting on passages.

That's just adults, though. Predators go on Roblox to prey on children, so let's look at some of the kids' statistics as well. According to The Nation's Report Card, reading showed a significant decrease in both grades 4 and 8, and from percentiles up to the 75th and 50th respectively. As a whole, everyone is worse at reading.