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BookTok Fuels Reading Revival, Cuts Screen Time
6 Sep
Summary
- Social media communities like BookTok boost reading.
- Reading offers an alternative to digital screen time.
- Romance and fantasy genres are popular on BookTok.
Online communities on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram are fostering a renewed interest in reading, inspiring a shift away from excessive screen time. These "BookTok" and "Bookstagram" movements bring together readers, authors, and creators to share book reviews, recommendations, and other literary content.
This phenomenon has led to books going viral and has encouraged many, like 14-year-old Mia from Bristol, to reduce their digital consumption in favor of reading. Mia noted that her screen time decreased significantly as she chose to read books over streaming services, finding that reading engages her mind more effectively.
The influence of BookTok is also evident in bookstores, with dedicated sections and sales charts now reflecting the trend. Genres such as romance and "romantasy"—a blend of romance and fantasy—have seen immense popularity. Holly Irwin, a bookshop owner who relocated from New Zealand, highlighted how social media success with her romance book reviews led her to open a specialist shop.
The UK publishing industry reported a record income of £7.4 billion in 2025, partly due to an increased appetite for fiction and audiobooks. While romance and saga sales saw a dip in 2025, they remained double their 2019 figures. Conversely, sci-fi and fantasy, including romantasy, experienced record sales with an 8.8 million unit increase year-on-year, a 183% rise since 2019.
