An endless amount of instant information is now accessible in the palm of one’s hand, everything from images of the Seven Wonders of the World to the current traffic patterns on U.S. Highway 264. Ten years ago, when smartphones were more of a luxury than a necessity, newspaper sales were higher, libraries more populated and summer reading lists a leisurely activity, rather than a high school student’s most despised requirement prior to the school year.

It’s no coincidence that eight years since the invention of the iPhone and, thus, instantly obtainable information, we now live in the most divided country, socially and politically, since the Civil War. Smartphones not only make information easily accessible, but a variety of quick, differing opinions as well, some that may be incorrect or even sensationalized.

Whether it’s on the national level or local stage, the unbalanced mixture of contrasting opinions has created a contentious, sometimes uncivil atmosphere that is significantly more unproductive. We see it in Washington, D.C.; we see it in Washington, N.C.

If one is subscribed to a news organization’s breaking news application, as most are, one’s smartphone goes off a couple times a day with quick blurbs of information, whether that’s another deplorable mass shooting or a piece of major legislation passed in Washington, D.C. From there, opinions are usually developed via a preferred news or information outlet — in 2015, especially among the younger generation, that’s usually social media or television.

The literacy rate in the United States hasn’t changed much through the last decade, but what is read has.

More people are, simply put, uninformed, but quick to latch on to a political party or take a stance on an issue. Laziness is a byproduct of instantly obtainable information. The facts are there if one is willing to read them, rather than scroll through a Facebook timeline or browse YouTube videos.

Being informed is critical to a properly functioning democracy, and it’s the news outlets that keep the political structure in line. Despite all these different electronic vehicles — laptops, smartphones, tablets — fewer literate people are reading.

Parents should be encouraging their children to read and pay attention to the news, whether that’s in their hometown, around the country or both. But it’s also important to remember that it’s not just kids who have become immersed in their smartphones.

Don’t be afraid to take the extra step, do a little reading and make it a point to be more informed. It will likely lead to developing a homemade opinion that might be different, but it’ll be one’s own.