Slow media

 I know it’s been a while, but the beauty of having a blog is that I don’t feel pressured to post every day. Instagram and TikTok feel like media fast food to me. People post anything just to stay afloat in the algorithm. I figured that since I’ve already sentenced myself to media exile, I might as well share my motivation with you.

At first, Bookstagram and BookTok seemed like wonderful places. But the more time I spent there, the more I was struck by the mindless consumerism. I often felt like it was more about buying books than actually reading them. Reviews were usually overly positive, and the word “obsessed” popped up in every single one.

What bothered me most, though, was the lack of honesty. People were churning out reviews en masses, practically reviewing a new book every two days and swearing they read all day long. Reading stopped being a pleasure and turned into a race or a bidding war.

I recommend a YouTube video by one of my favorite creators: 

booktok's complicated relationship with shopping: how book encourages overconsumption and reading

Here’s a deeper dive into the topic of social media:

We can't focus

And here an interesting idea for a solution. For me it would be tough without Google Maps and my bank app. Luckily, I managed to quit social media without resorting to drastic measures.

dumb phones: is tiktok trying to buy its way out of phone addiction?