Aim: The study aims to analyze the social factors influencing the students' reading habits: The educational sphere, academic performance, the availability of free time, their parent's level of education and the number of children in the family. Methods: Psychological and pedagogical literature was analyzed, and the main concepts of the study were revealed, a survey of students was conducted to determine social factors and the degree of their influence on reading habits. Results and conclusion: The study found that reading habits are developed in childhood under the influence of significant adults, primarily parents and secondary teachers, and the education of parents play an important role. The study also found that reading habits and academic performance are closely related, and people who maintain consistent reading habits tend to achieve high levels of educational success. Additionally, crises have a significant impact on the changes in the number of books read and digital literacy, which considerably increased. However, most respondents stated that they depend on external factors. Therefore, there is a need to look for methods for developing the reading habits of modern students. Cognitive value: The cognitive value of this research lies in its ability to shed light on how reading habits are formed and how they affect academic performance. This research contributes to understanding the social factors shaping reading habits. The findings are relevant to educators and parents, who can use them to develop strategies to promote reading habits.