There is a lot of speculation about the future of hardcopy reading materials. One is that the publishing industry is predicted to become extinct, as online readers will easily access any reading material online for free. I think that this prediction will come true, but not to its full extent.
Readers are not likely to continue to buy anything printed for several reasons, one of which is technological advancements. Today, young readers are reading texts online more often, and the high sales of electronic book readers, such as Kindle, and the rapid replacement of paper newspapers and books with news apps and online libraries show that this trend is gaining dominance and will likely continue until its domination is complete. More importantly, readers’ awareness of environmental issues can significantly affect the extinction of publications. Under increasing pressure from the concerned public, many policymakers have passed laws protecting forests, and the pressure will increase as our ecological problems grow more severe, leading to stricter laws protecting nature, probably causing the demise of the traditional paper production industry.
However, the issue of paying for reading materials in the future is complex. Although the traditional publishing industry is likely to become extinct, its futuristic version might continue to publish books or newspapers for profit. Much like today, authors and journalists will continue to rely on publishing houses or news agencies to publish their stories and articles for profit, and there is no reason this will change because, currently, there is no substitution for this profit system. However, the manner of payment for reading might be vastly different. Readers may have to pay for subscriptions to access a book chapter for a period or their favorite news articles.
In conclusion, the prediction under examination will likely come largely true as rapid technological advancements and escalating environmental concerns eventually diminish the demand for hard copies. The only problem is that online texts will have to be paid for in some novel ways, and writers will continue to depend on futuristic publishing houses to sell their products.
