The Pros and Cons of “BookTok”: Is This Social Media Phenomenon Actually Beneficial?

A few books I have read recently! Source: Hanna Zabski '25

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, many people suddenly had much more free time on their hands and were eagerly searching for new hobbies. With TikTok being at its peak during the pandemic, many people began to speak about their newfound hobbies on the social media platform. One social media movement that has seen an infinite rise in the past few years is “BookTok.” 

BookTok is a social media group where people discuss books they have read and give book recommendations and reviews. The traction BookTok has gained over these years is enormous, with multiple BookTok influencers, such as Aymansbooks, having hundreds of thousands of followers on the platform. 

Over the years, I have started reading more frequently and getting invested in specific authors and book series. It took very little time for my TikTok algorithm to introduce me to BookTok, and once I was introduced, my whole perspective on authors and the publishing industry changed. As a media studies and production major with a focus in film and television, I was astonished to see how many films and television shows were based off of books. BookTok not only introduced me to books that were being adapted on-screen, but it also revealed shows and films that I have watched that I didn't know were based on books, such as You and The Queen’s Gambit, both on Netflix. 

After spending much time immersed in BookTok and the influencers that surround the movement, I have come to the conclusion that the platform has both positives and negatives to it. BookTok allows people to connect with each other and bond over their shared interest in certain book series and authors. I recently just finished reading the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi, and it was so exciting to be able to go on TikTok and see all of the content posted surrounding the characters and the plotlines. It made me feel more engrossed in the story and see that the series affected other people as deeply as it did myself. 

BookTok also gives lesser-known authors more recognition and a chance to shine more than they would normally. The authors themselves are able to use the TikTok platform as free advertisements for their books, while also gaining income that could go towards publishing their first novel or finding an agent. One of my favorite aspects of BookTok is being able to get book recommendations from fellow readers. I have a whole folder on TikTok dedicated just to book recommendations, and it's very interesting to see different people explain their favorite and least favorite books. BookTok can feel like your own mini book club at times, and it makes the reading experience feel more like a community. 

Although BookTok has shed light on some brilliant authors and has formed an unbreakable community, the platform is also known for some negatives. One instance in which BookTok has come under scrutiny is its promotion of books and authors that glamorize sensitive and triggering subjects, such as sexual abuse and violence. 

One author that has come under a lot of scrutiny for her glamorization of sexual abuse is Colleen Hoover and her novel, It Ends With Us. The novel surrounds the main character Lily as she fights to break through the cycles of abuse that are present in her past and current life. Many avid book readers do not like that “BookTok” has been advertising the book as a “perfect romance,” when in reality, the book covers very deep and sensitive topics. 

Some BookTok users also believe that they have a sense of superiority over others due to the number of books they own, the clout they receive on the platform or just the mere fact that they may believe that the books they read are more interesting and “elite” than others. 

The “BookTok'' platform is definitely one that has its pros and cons, but there’s no denying the impact this social media phenomenon has had on both avid book consumers and authors. While I do see smaller book communities on other apps such as Instagram and Twitter, no app has quite a book community like TikTok. Almost every Barnes and Noble location now has a section dedicated to books that have gone viral on BookTok, which shows how much this platform has affected bookstores and their sales.