The reading culture has been affected in recent years by different factors. It is definitely not what it used to be, for better or worse. Technology has made reading accessible and diverse to many people who never considered reading as a hobby before, especially with the assistance of audiobooks and Kindles. Yet, along with the technological advancements, unnecessary pressure has been put on the reading game due to social media and influencers putting the importance of leisurely reading on a pedestal.
We’ve all seen videos of people describing their every action while displaying their ordinary daily routine. How many times have you scrolled through social media, whether on TikTok, Instagram, or even YouTube, and came across a video of a vlogger showing off their “night routine?” And how many of these videos end with the influencer getting into bed and pulling out a book, because it’s “important to stay off our phones before we go to sleep?”
Countless vloggers and influencers have made it a personal mission to stress the importance of reading, but it’s difficult to miss the irony in their actions. Sure, reading a book instead of scrolling through our phones is much better for our brains. But we all know that immediately after an influencer gets the perfect shot of them flipping a few pages over in the book they keep at their bedside, they then reach for their phones, stop the recording, and go right back to scrolling on their phones instead. Additionally, the only way they can make a living out of filming their nightly routine is if someone on the other side is watching, probably late at night, instead of reading a book. Why should we be affected by a stranger telling us to read more when it is clearly all just a game of pretending for them?
Even picking what we read has become a game of influence. I don’t remember the last time I added a book to my “To Be Read” list that wasn’t something I had simply seen on TikTok’s algorithm, aka BookTok. I genuinely miss the days when I walked into a Barnes & Noble, or even better, a public library, picked up a book, read the back of it, and decided for myself if I liked the plot enough to try it out. Now, I only ever get a book if I have seen a BookTok influencer recommend it, and if the people in the comments below support their decision.
Via tatis_corner, arabellatouchstone, lizzreadz
Furthermore, when I do walk into a bookstore, it’s difficult to ignore the “#BookTok” stands right at the front, or the irremovable printed stickers most popular books are now being adorned with.
Via Hachette, bookishbluebird
Recommendations have always been there, and will forever be a part of a book’s success or failure, but shouldn’t we also use our own discretion? Where do we draw the line, and should we stop buying books simply because someone else said it is a “must-read?”
I love reading, but I don’t love the pressure to read. No one should feel any less of themselves if they find it hard to enjoy this hobby, even if society is trying to tell them they should feel otherwise.
That said, here are my September 2025 resolutions that I plan to follow at least until the end of this year: Read as much as I want, no more and no less. Only read books that bring me joy, and ditch those that feel like a chore to finish. I won’t stop reading books recommended to me on my “For You” page, because those can be great. However, I will definitely wander around at more bookstores and find books all on my own. Lastly, if I decide to pick up a book and read it, the only reason I should do it is because I genuinely want to, end of story.
Via newsnationnow
