A meta-analysis led by Professor Lei Hao of East China Normal University and Professor Chiu Ming-ming of The Education University of Hong Kong has found that digital textbooks significantly boost students' intrinsic motivation to learn compared to traditional paper textbooks. The study, published in the Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, reviewed 27 experimental and quasi-experimental studies conducted between 2000 and 2024, involving 3,590 participants. The research highlights how digital textbooks, with features like audio, video, and interactive tools, can better meet students' psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and connection with others. According to the study, digital textbooks are particularly effective in enhancing learning motivation at higher educational levels, with the strongest impact observed among university students. This is partly because older learners tend to have better metacognitive skills and digital literacy, allowing them to process complex information more effectively. The findings also suggest that digital textbooks are more impactful in collectivist cultural contexts—where group harmony and interdependence are valued—compared to individualist cultures, where personal independence is emphasized. At the policy level, the researchers recommend that education authorities set clear quality standards for digital textbooks to ensure they are both pedagogically valuable and technically user-friendly. Teachers should be supported through professional development programs to effectively integrate these tools into their teaching. Implementation should be gradual and based on evidence, starting with groups where the benefits are most pronounced, such as university students and those in collectivist cultures. Additionally, policies should include safeguards to ensure equitable access and prevent growing disparities in student motivation and achievement across different schools. At the classroom level, teachers are encouraged to use digital textbooks alongside motivational strategies such as timely feedback, goal setting, and reflection. These strategies can help turn short-term interest into long-term intrinsic motivation. Teaching students self-regulated learning techniques can also help them use the features of digital textbooks—such as interactive content and multimedia—to engage in deeper learning rather than simply completing tasks superficially. Professor Chiu emphasized that the study shows how digital textbooks can be strategically integrated into education to enhance students' inner drive to learn. She noted that by focusing on intrinsic motivation, the approach goes beyond changing the medium of instruction and instead helps students develop a lasting desire to explore and master knowledge. This, she said, is essential for cultivating lifelong learners in the 21st century.