this post was submitted on 05 May 2026
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More (not so) fun facts:

54% of American adults read below a 6th grade level.

21% read below a 5th grade level, which is considered functionally illiterate.

High immigration numbers don't fully explain it either, as first gen immigrants only make up about 1/3 of those with low literacy.

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[โ€“] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 1 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

Are you suggesting that it's okay just because other countries have high rates of illiteracy? Or are you saying that the metric is flawed, and that that obviously means the US doesn't have an illiteracy problem since the research methodology was flawed?

Either way, I hard disagree.

[โ€“] jama211@lemmy.world 1 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

The metric isn't flawed, you just don't understand what the metric is saying, and the "article" is severely misleading about what the study actually found. There is not even a single source that links the results of the study to a "6th grade reading level" - that was entirely made up.

My point was other countries with high rates of LITERACY also scored similar amounts or amounts that were only marginally better, because the test taken was quite high level, and the methodology was flawed, it's a bit of a double whammy.

This is genuinely taken out of context because it's perfect outrage clickbait.

The metric isn't flawed

the test taken was quite high level, and the methodology was flawed

Okay, once you get your own argument straight without contradicting yourself then maybe I'll take you seriously?

So is the whole world as illiterate as the US, or is the US as literate as the rest of the world? Because you seem to be saying one or the other and I still can't figure out which...