In the many years since the technological boom of the 1980s, a whole generation has grown up where there has never been a time when they haven’t had technology or gadgets to keep them company. In the current era of social media, the world is ever-moving, and nothing stays the same for more than a few months. This generation raised on the internet has never known a slow moment, so why has such a large portion of it recently taken to slowing down with a book? With the rise of terms such as “Book-Tok” and an influx of new writers, one must wonder why in a time of such exciting electrical developments so many people would turn to the oldest form of entertainment.
For the generation that has grown up in the era of the internet, technological advances are no longer new or exciting—they’re a fact of life. The current obsession with reading and writing is an escape from a world where everything moves quickly, clinging to the ideas perpetuated by the older generations that in earlier years, everything was simpler. Those who’ve lived through the changing times may cling onto the years that root them to their childhood, times when social media didn’t dominate lives and the world wasn’t a tap away. We always hear of “boomers” being stuck in the past, but maybe these older people and their sentimental values have imprinted on younger generations hoping for a moment of peace.
The recent influx of reading may also have ties to superiority complexes in modern society. People often want to seem better educated and more agreeable than the proletariat. Even within the niche of the reading community itself, many people use their interests and beliefs to create invisible lines and elevate themselves socially. Social media has placed people in a peculiar position where anyone can see them at all times, so everyone must be in their best shape in order to create infinite appeal around themselves. Those who read are distancing themselves from the majority of others by not spending most of their time on social media. Furthermore, those who read fantasy are distancing themselves from those who read romance, and nonfiction from fantasy. It is a cycle of people wanting to show others that they are more superior since they don’t indulge themselves in things purely for fast entertainment. The hierarchies within reading communities are made so that people can claim they are better than others since they don’t read things that are seen as anti-intellectual. This is just the same as people reading purely to separate themselves from people who spend time online. Intellectual integrity is often used as an excuse on the internet for shaming people within reading circles for not spending their time reading high literature, classics, or in-depth essays.
Still, there is something to be said of the consumerist side to this recent influx of reading. Consumerism has never been larger than it is today (perhaps not since the technology boom of the 80s), and reading culture can often link to this. Many people indulging in modern reading circles do so for wide cultural appeal, but also to associate themselves with influencer culture by buying books purely for aesthetic purposes. It has been discussed in online circles that many people own multiple copies of one book—one on a kindle or another digital reading device, and another for the shelf that will never actually be read. Something can be said about the upper-class mentality of people who participate in these consumerist ideals, especially when purchasing books simply for aesthetic purposes when many people cannot actually afford copies of books, let alone the collector’s hardback edition in a large case. This also further links to the invisible lines in reading communities, when people shame others for owning many copies of one book while not everyone knows or acknowledges the implications of these mentalities.
Overall, the modern reading resurgence in the era of technology can be interpreted as an attempt to hold onto the society that existed for thousands of years but is now disappearing slowly as technology takes over. However, since many of the people participating in this culture were born in the era of gadgets, many hold beliefs that we’re born to cope with the changing times; so many within these circles unwittingly indulge in vast consumerism or inherent classism, whether they realize it or not. It’s a good thing that many people are attempting to engage in intellectual behaviors, but some don’t realize that they may have to unlearn the values perpetuated in the time of social media to create a safe environment for everyone to join. If the masses want more people to read, more people first need to consider how their belief systems impact their communities.
Ava Donoghue is a sixteen-year-old currently at college studying Film Studies, German, and Music Technology. They prefer they/them pronouns. They have always loved writing since a young age and are a very creative person. Many of their hobbies include theatre technology, playing in orchestras, writing music, and reading. They also have interests in film and are currently the junior vice-captain at their golf club, lined up to be captain next year. They want to pursue a career involving writing and film, either film journalism or screenwriting. Journalism and recommendatory articles are also a passion of theirs.
Featured image by Nick Fewings on Unsplash.
