written by : Mundzirul Umam EL-Abqory Kau
supervised by : Muziatun S.Pd, M.App. Ling, PHD
In recent years, social media platforms have increasingly influenced various aspects of our lives, including our reading habits and literary preferences. One notable phenomenon is the rise of BookTok, a subcommunity on TikTok dedicated to book recommendations and discussions. This mini-research is conducted  to explore the impact of BookTok on students' understanding and consumption of academic literature.
The BookTok Phenomenon
BookTok has exploded onto the literary scene, turning the publishing world upside down. With just a few swipes, this TikTok phenomenon can launch unknown books into the spotlight, creating instant bestsellers. Users create short videos recommending books, sharing reactions, and discussing literary themes. While this has led to increased reading engagement among young people, it has also raised questions about the depth and extent of literary exploration encouraged by the platform itself.
But first, what is BookTok? #BookTok serves readers who are enthusiastic about authors, series, and genres, including adults. When hundreds of people started posting their opinions and book recommendations on TikTok videos during the pandemic, #BookTok really took off. More than 167.3 billion views have been made on #BookTok since then.(The Social Institute)
Impact on Students' Reading Habits
Popularity-driven choices: BookTok often promotes a select group of popular titles, potentially narrowing students' exposure to many and diverse literary works.
Short-form content: The platform's brief video format may encourage quick, surface-level engagement with books rather than deep, critical analysis.
Genre preferences: BookTok tends to favor certain genres, particularly young adult fiction and romance, potentially at the expense of classic literature and academic texts.
Implications for Academic Literature
