Reading vlogs, five-star reviews, books lists, and recommendations — all of these and more can be found on BookTok to reach thousands of followers every day. As someone who has always been an active reader, the concept of BookTok has fascinated me. So, I’ve started thinking about how it has influenced me as well as my reading habits.
What is BookTok?
BookTok is a social niche that started on TikTok, and created a space in which readers can share book opinions, recommendations, and experiences. Its popularity has grown over the years, and the content has now reached other platforms, such as Instagram and YouTube. Just like any other interest displayed on social media, BookTok has its own creators, called BookTokers, to present the latest trends.
Positive aspects.
Reading has always been a big passion of mine. Whenever my family would go on a trip, a book had to come with me. Yet as I got older, I found it harder to find books that sparked my interest. I felt like I had already read all the books in my local bookstore, and was thus stuck with no new worlds to explore. So, I started to search for recommendations online, which is how I came to discover BookTok.Â
I watched hour-long reading vlogs, read reviews that described the experience of fellow readers, and ultimately decided to give a few of these books a chance. Much to my surprise, I actually enjoyed many of these trending books. Sharing an interest with so many people can make you feel welcomed and accepted. You feel connected, and as for myself, I thought it was nice to see others share the same passions as me.
Negative aspects.
However, not all experiences or interactions I’ve seen on BookTok have been positive. Whenever large groups of people share an interest and exchange opinions, there will ultimately be disagreements. Additionally, yearly reading challenges have gained more popularity over recent years. Readers will set a goal on how many books they want to read during a year and sometimes create TBRs (“To Be Read” lists).Â
While this may motivate people to read more and create positive reading habits, I have noticed that it can also result in the exact opposite. Seeing influencers reach numbers as high as 100 books per year can make you feel like you are not doing enough. I have compared my habits to those active on BookTok personally, and have felt as if my interest in reading came to be centered around the quantity of books I read, not my personal experiences and interests.
Overall, I would say that BookTok can be helpful in burgeoning reading habits. The community creates a space for readers to express their opinions, feel valued, and find people to share a common interest without being judged. However, as with many social media communities, it can affect its users in harmful ways when users start comparing themselves to others.
As a reader, I would recommend BookTok as a platform to get inspiration for new reads or to get book recommendations for genres you may have not read yet. Just remember your passion for books isn’t measured by the number of books you read or how many people agree with your taste. You need to enjoy what you read.