READING IS THE NEW SEXY

From bullying bookworms to celebrating them, society’s perception of reading has come a long way

By: Annie Wang

Credit: Shreveport Times

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Growing up, I constantly consumed media where nerds and bookworms were the brunt of the joke. They were shoved into lockers, ostracized at lunch and labeled as “weird” for choosing a book over the latest tech gadget. Owning the newest iPhone was totally cool, but carrying around a tote full of books? Not so much.

But oh, how the tables have turned.

Today, reading has become a coveted status symbol. T-shirts adorned with “Reading is sexy” are all over Pinterest, and people rush to flaunt their latest reads on social media. Books are no longer just an intellectual pursuit — they’ve become a fashion statement, a conversation starter and a reflection of one’s identity.

Celebrities have also jumped on the bandwagon. Paparazzi shots of Addison Rae reading “The Woman in Me” by Britney Spears went viral. Kendall Jenner has received praise for her literary taste, and stars like Kaia Gerber and Dua Lipa have even launched their own book clubs.

But how did we go from “four-eyed book nerd” to “hot intellectual with a well-curated bookshelf”?

Perhaps we have TikTok to thank — or more specifically, BookTok. BookTok is a community on TikTok where users share book recommendations, reviews, and various book-related content. It exploded in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when people were searching for new ways to pass the time.

The romance genre, in particular, has seen a massive surge in popularity, with the “Queen of BookTok,” Colleen Hoover, generating significant buzz. Hoover’s 2016 novel, “It Ends With Us,” spent 162 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list and has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.

According to NPD BookScan, U.S. print book sales rose by approximately 8.2% in 2020, the year BookTok went viral. Additionally, a 2023 study by the American Library Association found that Gen Z and millennials are utilizing public libraries, both in person and digitally, at higher rates than older generations.

While reading is now celebrated for its educational value and cognitive benefits, its growing popularity in the face of rising illiteracy rates warrants further examination.

A 2023 study by the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics found that 28% of adults scored at or below Level 1 in literacy, a significant increase from 19% in 2017.

Alongside growing illiteracy rates, the term “brain rot” has surged in popularity, so much so that it earned the title of Oxford’s 2024 Word of the Year. “Brain rot” describes the perceived deterioration of an individual’s cognitive or intellectual state, often linked to the overconsumption of digital content.

Neither illiteracy nor the effects of “brain rot” are regarded favorably. Instead, they are seen as a source of shame.

Once upon a time, joking about being unable to read was met with laughter — after all, reading was for nerds and losers. But today, it’s downright embarrassing. And doom-scrolling? Let’s just say that no one is proudly admitting they spend hours mindlessly scrolling through TikTok. It’s neither cute nor glamorous.

It appears that reading — especially the reading of print media — has become a status symbol. When celebrities upload photos of their carefully curated book stacks, it’s not only a way to engage with their followers but also an opportunity to showcase their intellectual prowess. Being smart isn’t just the new sexy… it’s also the new wealthy.

As a self-proclaimed bookworm, I will always support the popularization of books and reading. But I can't help but wonder: How long is this trend going to stick around? Will reading always be sexy, or will it eventually become so uncool that it gets your lunch flushed down the toilet by a group of school bullies?

And the real kicker: Are we really, truly evolving, or are we just buying into the next big status symbol? 

The next chapter is still being written.

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Annie Wang is a second-year journalism major at UF. She is an online writer for Rowdy Magazine and a reporter for The Independent Florida Alligator. In her free time, she enjoys reading and writing book reviews.