I believe it. I've been attempting educational outreach for 20 years. Nobody wants to read. Fake books lend all the atmosphere most people will tolerate.
It's disturbing. I read this last year and it scared the p*ss out me:
Amazon.com: The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future (Or, Don't Trust Anyone Under 30) (9781585426393): Mark Bauerlein: Books
Joe
Yet, there is hope. Despite the fact that it seems the younger generations have become entirely self-absorbed and illiterate--and indeed, many of them have--there IS hope. I know this because I know my children, and I know some of their friends.
My sons, 19 and 21 years of age, have been reading since they were four years old. They were being read to long before that. My eldest, in particular, was almost NEVER without a book in his hand, even before he could read it himself.
The eldest was reading adult-level books by third grade. He read, and mostly understood the adult version of "The Way Things Work" when he was eight years old--he probably understood it better THEN than I do now!
As a result, they are incredibly literate, learned individuals. They both read a myriad of different genres, and they have both read more of the classics than almost any adult I know (outside my own family). And some of their friends are also pretty voracious readers.
I believe that their reading habits have not just made them smarter, but less self-centered, more aware of the world around us, the needs of others, the HISTORY of how we came to BE in this mess.
One wants to be a rocket scientist, one wants to be an artist--both are highly intelligent, both are respected not just by their peers but by the adults who know them.
I don't say that to brag on MY kids (though I'm happy to do so!) but to say that there ARE younger people out there who are not falling into the "dumbing down" black hole that is the digital age. This "minority" among the younger generation still love their technology, but they also know how to survive in the wilderness, how to grow their own food, and how to put others ahead of themselves. It's encouraging to see, and it is what gives me hope.
The "Greatest Generation" had the same dismal, hopeless feelings about the future as they watched the "Baby Boomers" reach college age and then adulthood. There was little hope for a bright future when adults looked at the rebellious draft-dodging, flag-burning, free-loving, pot-smoking young boomers. And yet, looked how we turned out...okay, BAD example. 
