In the age of constant social surveillance, the hottest new accessory denotes a trait money can’t buy: literacy.
After turning the last page of a new read, it can be tempting to post about it online. By posting about books or being seen with them publicly, people are giving the impression they’re well-read even if they aren’t. However, carrying a book everywhere can seem performative, even if driven by genuine interest. Regardless of intent, the act of reading has shifted from a personal hobby into a more complex social signal.
Reading for social clout is a new take on exploring literature. Growing up, I found myself constantly immersed in books. I remember being so obsessed with Chris Colfer’s Land of Stories that I was scolded by my family for bringing it into a restaurant. Before having access to the internet, my motivation to read was driven by pure obsession.
Today, the obsession with reading mostly involves other people’s reactions. I can’t deny that whenever I see someone post about a recent read, I feel pressure to open the nearest book. From rating a novel on Goodreads to reviewing it in a TikTok, the internet boasts a plethora of places to talk about books. However, posting about a book online has little to do with understanding its content and more about showing off the accomplishment of reading. Books have become an accessory for personality, especially in the online age of engineered image.
Reading publicly has a lot to do with image. By sharing book reviews, toting copies out in public, or posting photos of personal book collections, people signal positive things about themselves. A far cry from the classic “bookworm” character trope, today, being well-read is a badge of honour. A person who reads comes off as someone with a rich inner world, a myriad of interests, and a healthy attention span.
The relationship between performative reading and attention span brings technology into the conversation about reading trends. As technology advances, dopamine production, attention spans are shortening across all age groups. In a hyper-online society, reading emerges as part of a broader trend where being disconnected becomes desirable. Having the luxury of reading suggests intelligence, but it also suggests free time and fewer restraints on attention.
Being able to devote hours to recreational reading is impressive, but it’s not realistic for all. In fact, the appeal of showing off any analog hobby online is that it represents the privilege of being able to unplug from work, school, and family duties. Increasingly, this privilege is reserved for the wealthy. Tech-free private schools, for example, boast lofty tuitions and pupils like tech billionaire Mark Zuckerberg’s kids.
Time-consuming or not, reading is still an important skill and a rewarding hobby. Once I crack open a book, no matter the motivation, I become my younger self again. Being transported to unique worlds through literature is a gift everyone can enjoy. And it’s certainly true that many enjoy reading for reasons that aren’t performative.
Considering the way reading plays into assumptions about intelligence and class is important, but sitting down and opening a book is positive, no matter the intent. It may be trendy now, but reading will always be timeless.
Tags
books, Literacy, Reading, Social media
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