Gen Z are not as big of readers in comparison to older generations. A study by UCL has shown that there has been a 40% drop in people who read for fun among all ages, and only 43% of Gen Z say they never read for fun since 2005, which is not good. So, why is there such a big drop? Well, there are a few factors. Most teenagers feel that it is more fulfilling to scroll on social media for fun, and not read that much into the content they digest. There is also a shift in education, which focuses more on studying short passages from a textbook, rather than analyzing an entire book, which has been noted by NPR. But, this does not mean that literacy is dying.

The way teenagers read and the way they find books has changed. Most teenagers find it easier to read through online websites or apps on their phone. Apps like webtoons or kindle have changed the way people read. Most people find it easier to read books from the convenience of their phone, and not have to worry about lugging around a book wherever they go. There is also a growing group of people who are reading manga, or other graphic novels as their main reading genre. IB  Sophomore Anne Marie speaks about her recent catalog of books she’s read: “I usually read a lot of manga, such as stuff like Sailor Moon, and Alien Stage, which I read on my phone.” Most people who read graphic novels find it easier to understand and comprehend the novel when there is a visual to help with clarity. 

But, there is a group of teenagers who prefer to read novels and other forms of literature the old fashioned way- physical books. Junior Faith Mellow speaks about her passion for reading: “I just love the feeling of reading a book, it’s so calming and relaxing, and it just feels so nice being sucked into the story of a good novel.” This sentiment is shared throughout a lot of younger people. The experience of reading a book has been beloved for centuries, and books have evolved with the culture and innovations surrounding the world. The methods of finding books have changed as well, as the advent of booktok has changed the way Gen Z finds books.

BookTok is a community/genre of videos and creators whose goal is to spread awareness for certain novels and books. These creators will find books, either niche or popular, and introduce this book to their audiences, which exposes their audiences to the book. This gives the book a bigger chance to succeed. This relationship between a novelist and a tiktok influencer has been highly beneficial, as both parties gain exposure, which could lead to monetary gains. BookTok has also helped teens begin to read for fun, and it grows their love for books, due to the viewer feeling more inclined to read after viewing content that encourages them. 

Books are now being written by Gen Z, as they grow into adulthood. We are beginning to see the Gen Z perspective in modern literature, which could help younger readers relate to the books, as most literature in the market has been written by Gen X and millennials. 

Overall, while reading as a hobby has declined for younger generations, there is still a large group of readers who are reading more than ever, and are able to find more books with the help of social media. Literature has become more accessible, with millions of books being accessible through a single app.