We’re all aware that the rise in technology and social media has caused young people to become engrossed in their algorithms, the instant gratification and dopamine hits present scrolling as a more fulfilling or easier past-time, than reading a whole novel.
With the rise of anti-intellectualism—where people are dismissing education, art, or literature—it is more important than ever to read. The distrust of the education system or people in power really should cause a spike in learning, in order to understand the complexities and ability to challenge our society. Currently, the rise in populism means reading and interacting critically with information is integral to the future of our society. Without constantly educating yourself, it is easy to take information at face value, rather than considering its reliability; and this is where it can be dangerous—where the masses can be steered in one direction or another.
It is not only the quantity of reading that contributes to the literary crisis, but also the quality
It seems, however, that there is actually a large movement of a rise in reading, thanks to BookTok’s influence. But is this really the case? Constantly dumbing down books and reducing them to their tropes or aesthetics cannot allow for truly insightful or meaningful reading, instead it closes off a reader’s mindset, allowing minimal interaction with the content. Furthermore, the overused BookTok question, ‘Is there spice?’ clearly presents the disconnect between the reader and the text’s content. It is not only the quantity of reading that contributes to the literary crisis, but also the quality.
It’s important to recognise that when you read, you must read critically and, unlike BookTok, expand past tropes. You must also go beyond your regular tastes: read from different time periods and genres to broaden your horizons and properly educate yourself—it is okay to have reading preferences, however you must have read widely to have a certain preference, otherwise you are just closing your mind off to all the possibilities.