The problem with reading "vertically" on the internet primarily relates to how information is presented and consumed rather than just the physical act of reading text arranged vertically.
Key Issues with Vertical Reading on the Internet
- Limited Perspective and Bias : When reading vertically-scrolling down a single webpage-you only see what the creator of that site wants you to see. This can limit your understanding and expose you to biased or incomplete information because the site controls the narrative and what details are shown
- Difficulty in Evaluating Reliability : Vertical reading mimics reading a book or article linearly, but the web is not linear; it's a network of interconnected information. Many websites look legitimate when read vertically because they present polished visuals, citations, and professional design. However, this surface appearance can mask unreliable or misleading content. Vertical reading makes it hard to distinguish trustworthy information from misinformation because you stay confined to one source without cross-checking
- Lack of Context and Critical Evaluation : The web demands a different reading strategy called lateral reading , where you move horizontally-opening new tabs and checking other sources-to verify and understand the context of information. Vertical reading does not encourage this critical evaluation, leading to passive consumption and increased susceptibility to misinformation
Additional Note on Vertical Text Reading
From a purely visual and cognitive perspective, reading text arranged vertically (rotated or stacked) is slower and more difficult for readers accustomed to horizontal text. This is due to smaller visual spans, increased crowding effects, and the unfamiliarity of vertical word shapes and eye movement patterns
. However, this is a separate issue from the metaphorical "vertical reading" of web content. Summary: The main problem with reading "vertically" on the internet is that it confines you to a single source's viewpoint, making it difficult to assess the reliability and completeness of information. Effective internet reading requires lateral reading-checking multiple sources across tabs-to critically evaluate and contextualize what you find online
