There are multiple reasons why the urge to read may be so strong: the feeling of safety in knowledge, especially during difficult times; the design of social-media platforms that constantly refresh and boost the loudest voices; and, of course, the human fascination aspect.
Klein, J. (2021, March 3). The darkly soothing compulsion of ‘doomscrolling’. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210226-the-darkly-soothing-compulsion-of-doomscrolling