Social media and TV have long been blamed for distracting kids, but recently, they’ve also caused something surprising: a renewed love for reading. From emerging TikTok trends to the revival of iconic TV characters, the media is showing more students that reading can make them cool.
Take TikTok’s #BookTok community, where millions of readers share book recommendations, review favorite reads, and create edits of storylines and relationships. The act of reading has become a way to join the global community.
Though recreational reading has been on a decline, with the National Assessment of Education Progress reporting in 2023 that only 14% of students read for fun every day, social media is playing a significant role in piquing their interest in reading.
A recent survey by the United Kingdom Publishers Association found that 59% of people aged 16 to 25 have discovered a passion for reading through #BookTok. The hashtag has received over 100 billion views worldwide, and it’s the go-to book recommendation platform for the majority of people surveyed.
“I see students being influenced to read viral books and authors due to trends on TikTok or other forms of social media, which could pique their interest and will to read in the classroom during independent reading time,” shared Mrs. Rial, a 10th-grade English teacher at Skyline.
She noted that while social media is often credited with reducing students’ attention spans, communities like #BookTok have the potential to boost student motivation instead.
Media portrayals of literature also promote student reading by associating it with charm. The “dark academia” aesthetic romanticizes libraries and Gothic architecture, coffee-stained classics, and late-night reading sessions by candlelight, reviving the beauty that reading can bring.
Skyline junior and reader, Ava Wolter, does feel like the push for dark academia aesthetics can be too on the nose at times.
From Ava’s point of view, #BookTok in particular uses the romanticization of dark academia as a tactic to “lure people” into reading. She likes the trend but prefers books where the dark messaging contributes to the overall story, rather than being used for picturesque aesthetics.
TV shows drive home the aestheticization of books. Characters like Rory Gilmore from “Gilmore Girls” and Niel Perry from “Dead Poets Society” have made reading synonymous with depth, intellect, and charisma. As these books and movies grow in popularity due to their timeless storylines, more teens are inspired to follow their favorite characters and take up reading.
Another bonus: reading isn’t just a solitary activity anymore. It’s a way to connect, escape, and emulate the attractive intellect attributed to reading. Whether you’re picking up a book for the aesthetics or the adventure, one thing’s for sure—reading is one trend worth following.