'BookTok' damages media literacy, encourages consumerism
Book TikTok, more commonly known as “BookTok,” gained popularity during the early months of the pandemic. Videos under the BookTok hashtag range from reviews and recommendations to theories and “edits” of characters created by users; however, despite its success amongst the reading community, BookTok’s popular genres are increasingly damaging to young readers and embarrassing to the general literary community.
The rise of BookTok has undoubtedly turned reading from a boring and so-called “nerdy” hobby to a pastime popularized and appreciated by younger generations, such as my own. The growing popularity comes with a cost, though. I would be a hypocrite if I denied any of my scrolling through the BookTok hashtag. I have even delved into the novels creators obsess over, curious about the hype; however, I get bored of seeing the same books consistently and watching videos that lack meaningful conversations and comments. Instead, these recommendations focus on superficial details, like a slow-burn romance or a dreamy male main character.
Saying this does not mean I am a romance novel hater—I have read a handful of picture-perfect love stories. I find the genre to be enjoyable when it is well-written. This is where the fundamental problem lies with BookTok books: When you mix heavy commercialism, a consumer-driven society and poorly written, trope-centered fiction with an easily digestible storyline, you get BookTok.
It is not my intention to shame people who love reading trope-heavy romance and fantasy novels; however, when that is all you read, there is little room allowed for thinking beyond the pages. Cookie-cutter BookTok literature is a threat to our media literacy — known as the ability to encode and decode symbols and messages as portrayed through media. This is an idea that we all have grown up practicing in classroom settings. It may have been a classic novel that an English teacher asked us to read or maybe an old political campaign, both with interpretable messages behind them.
Without media literacy, we as a society risk losing our curiosity, individuality and ability to question what messages a text might contain beyond its surface level. Books and media are meant to expose us to different perceptions of life and cultures, which is something BookTok books fail to provide. If we as readers are only consuming repetitive and predictable books, there is no room or reason to practice media literacy skills, causing us to fall into a sheep mentality.
Aside from plots that lack depth, BookTok encourages a key element that I briefly mentioned earlier: consumerism. The main way BookTokers display their dedication is by consuming hundreds of books. Users and followers take pride in their ceiling-tall bookshelves with pieces they may only read once in their lives. Publishers and authors also use the platform’s power to promote specific titles, knowing that if someone recommends it, someone will go and purchase it.
Think back to the last time you were at a Barnes & Noble, searching the display tables for your next read: Was there a table or two labeled “#BookTok?” What started as an organic space for book lovers to share their favorite reads has turned into a marketing tool that prioritizes sales over literary appreciation. This raises concerns about authenticity, as it has become harder to distinguish between books that are truly loved by readers and books that are being strategically pushed out by publishers to gain the traction they desire.
While BookTok has undeniably reshaped the literary landscape we are familiar with today, its impacts stem deeper than simply broadening the reading community. The platform has succeeded in making reading more accessible and engaging but also risks oversimplifying literature into just a fleeting trend. Rather than allowing an algorithm to dictate our reading choices, we should use BookTok as a tool for discovering new authors or titles while maintaining a critical eye. At the end of the day, it is essential to read whatever you enjoy but also to keep in mind the importance of diversifying your reading journey and making decisions for yourself — not just because BookTok told you so.
