Scrolling mindlessly through TikTok, any book lover will tell you there’s an almost infinite number of book-related content to absorb—memes, recommendations, reviews, and fan theories regarding the latest releases—I’m, of course, referring to BookTok, a sub-platform within TikTok responsible for the reinvigoration of the publishing industry.  This increase in book sales has been highly beneficial to the publishing industry, leading to more significant print sales and, thus, benefitting bookstores around the world; it helps authors by allowing their books to reach an unprecedented global audience and enables viewers to connect with fellow readers interested in the same books.

Image courtesy of TikTok’s World Book Day

The Problem with BookTok?

Despite these benefits, however, a growing movement is calling out the dark side of BookTok and its negative influence on publishing standards. Critiques of the content made famous on BookTok and the lack of non-genre literature have led many to question the value BookTok adds to the literary community.

The most common critique of BookTok is against the types of books the platform elevates. The books that go viral on BookTok are typically genre literature like fantasy, romance, or mysteries. Sometimes, self-help books also catch the eyes of influencers promoting the trends. But rarely will you see a video promoting the classics or mentioning authors like Fitzgerald, Hemingway, or Steinbeck.

The books promoted are written for entertainment and reported to be “quick” reads that keep the reader engaged, though they may not tackle deep philosophical thoughts. Many critics bash this form of literature, citing a loss of intellectual and thought-provoking literary work. To them, the rise of BookTok represents a loss of what makes literature significant and impactful.

Are These Criticisms Valid?

I disagree with this critique. While I agree that the books represented on BookTok might not be the books assigned in an English class 20 years from now, that doesn’t make them less valuable. People read for many different reasons. Some like to read to seek answers to deep philosophical questions. But some people want to read to have fun. Punishing or speaking down to someone doesn’t seem fair because their interests don’t align with what academia has deemed worth reading.

It is absurd to criticize an entertainment platform for promoting entertainment. Users don’t log onto TikTok hoping to enter an intellectual debate about the themes at play in Les Misérables; they enter to escape from reality. It’s a slight reprieve from the horrors of life around them and a chance to laugh at a video of a dog wearing shoes for the first time. The books promoted on the app reflect that desire to escape reality. The fact that most promoted books are romances and fantasy books proves it. But saying someone is less intelligent because of what they read to decompress is absurd and close-minded.

There are problems with BookTok. The viral fame authors receive exposes them to many harmful comments from viewers. The additional pressure to publish new books faster has led to decreased publishing standards and incredibly fast-paced author deadlines. The increase in print sales due to viral influence has led some to compare the industry to “fast fashion.” These are all reasonable critiques of the platform; however, the complaints about individual reading tastes are not.