Social media has often been criticized for its impact on reading, with many naysayers claiming that it’s ruining reading. Not only is this not true, but social media can be good for reading in several ways.
Let’s dive into social media’s most criticized components.
Social Media’s Reader Aesthetic
There are those who believe that, somehow, the fact that people like aesthetic bookish social media feeds somehow leads, or is even correlated to, less actual reading.
Not only is this baseless speculation, it’s straight-up gatekeeping.
People can like pretty things and read books. These are not mutually exclusive. Someone’s brain doesn’t stop working because they enjoy artful expression, outfits, pictures, or videos. Someone’s literacy doesn’t decline because they like sharing these pictures or videos online with others who enjoy them.
In fact, one of the most significant benefits of social media for reading is that it provides access to a broader range of reading material than ever before. With the rise of blogs, fanfiction, and e-books, there is an almost endless supply of online reading material.
In addition, social media platforms allow readers to share and discuss their favorite books with others, providing a sense of community around reading.
If a few pretty pictures make someone interested in reading books, who cares? Is that not a good thing?
The Algorithm
While it’s true that most social media platforms use an algorithm to hook users, it’s also true that you are shown what you most interact with.
If you dive into Bookstagram or BookTok for the first time, yes, you will likely see the most popular 20 books over and over again. But if you’re familiar with social platforms and their goals, you’ll know they’re showing you what most people in that niche interact with and what’s most likely to keep you on the platform.
To see more tailored content, you must start interacting with the content you enjoy most. Do you like classics? Romance? Horror? Interact with those posts, view and follow the accounts that read those books, and follow those related hashtags. I promise they’re out there, no matter how niche.
Just because you didn’t see Tolstoy in the first five minutes doesn’t mean there aren’t Tolstoy lovers on the app.
More Social Media Time, Less Reading
This one baffles me. It’s silly to harp on how spending more time on Instagram means less time reading. You wouldn’t criticize someone for having a job, raising kids, cooking dinner, watching movies…all of which also take time from reading.
It’s a hobby. It’s not a big deal how, when, and for how much time someone chooses to engage with it. It doesn’t make them less of a reader.
Actually, another benefit of social media for reading is that it can help people develop and maintain good reading habits. Many social media platforms have features that allow users to set reading goals and track their progress, such as Goodreads’ reading challenges or the various reading tracker apps available. Buddy reading and online book clubs can also inspire someone to spend more time reading.
All this to say, social media can be a powerful motivator for people who want to read more, as it provides a community that encourages readers to keep going.
Not to mention that social media can also be a valuable tool for many authors and publishers who use it to connect with readers, share their thoughts and insights about their books, and promote new releases. This can be especially important for young readers, who may be more likely to engage with books recommended or endorsed by their favorite authors or social media influencers.
There are always downsides. That doesn’t mean it’s ruining reading.
Social media can actually be good for reading. It provides access to a wider range of reading material, helps readers develop good habits, and promotes literacy and a love of reading.
And if you’re a gatekeeper who feels the need to criticize the way other people enjoy the same hobby – maybe find better things to do with your time. Like reading more.
Check out some of my other recent blogs:
- The Sky on Fire: Great worldbuilding, slower plot
- Literary Atmosphere: A basic building block for immersion
- My Lady Jane: Funny and charming
- Discovery: The best part of reading
- Hell Bent (Book 2): More fantasy than horror
One response to “Social Media isn’t Ruining Books”
I absolutely agree with you. There are so many other distractions for not reading than social media, unfair to blame it on that for an individuals lack of self control. Besides it can promote books, I’m the weakling that will order a book just because it showed up on social media, you know how it is….once your in the algorithm my social media is flooded with them. 😊 And I like it!!!