A high school teacher has sparked an important conversation online after sharing a worrying observation about her students: many teenagers who once loved reading have gradually stopped picking up books for pleasure.

Her message has raised questions about screen time, changing school expectations, and the role adults play in encouraging young people to read. But there’s an unexpected twist. According to the teacher, one of the platforms often blamed for distracting teenagers from books may also be helping bring reading back into their lives.

That platform is TikTok, particularly its popular book-loving community known as BookTok.

The Decline in Reading for Pleasure

Reading for enjoyment has become less common among young people over the past several decades, and the figures paint a concerning picture.

According to data cited in discussions about children’s reading habits, the percentage of nine-year-olds who said they read for fun almost every day fell from 53% in 2012 to 42% in 2020.

Among 13-year-olds, the decline was even more pronounced. The proportion who read for pleasure daily dropped from 27% to 14% over the same period.

For 17-year-olds, the figures also reveal a long-term downward trend, with 19% reporting that they had read for fun in the period covered by the most recent data cited, compared with 31% in 1984.

These figures raise an important question: what is causing young people to lose interest in reading?

Digital entertainment is an obvious factor. Smartphones, video games, social media, and streaming services compete for teenagers’ attention throughout the day. With so many alternatives available, sitting down with a book can become less appealing.

However, technology may be only part of the story.

Why Are Teenagers Giving Up Books?

In December 2024, a high school teacher known on TikTok as Ms. C, or @stillateacher, shared her thoughts after discussing reading habits with her students.

She discovered that many had stopped reading for enjoyment around the end of middle school, even if they had previously been enthusiastic readers.

Children who once eagerly followed popular series such as Percy Jackson appeared to lose that enthusiasm as they grew older.

The teacher suggested that several factors might explain the change, including increasing academic pressure, busier social lives, and the growing attraction of smartphones.

As teenagers progress through school, their schedules become more demanding. Homework, examinations, extracurricular activities, friendships, and online entertainment all compete for their limited free time.

For some students, reading gradually shifts from an enjoyable activity to something associated mainly with schoolwork.

But Ms. C believes another factor deserves greater attention: the expectations adults set for young readers.

Has the Bar Been Set Too Low?

One of the teacher’s strongest criticisms concerned the belief that teenagers are no longer willing or able to read entire books.

She argued that some educators have lowered their expectations so far that students may not receive enough encouragement to develop the habit of reading longer works.

She also described encountering schools where teaching whole novels was discouraged, alongside conversations with educators who questioned the importance of reading books for students’ long-term success.

Her argument is that young people may struggle to become confident readers if the adults around them stop expecting them to engage with challenging texts.

Of course, students have different reading abilities, interests, and support needs. Some may require adapted materials or additional help to build their confidence.

But providing appropriate support is different from assuming that teenagers cannot enjoy a complete novel.

Young people deserve opportunities to discover books that interest them, encounter new ideas, and experience the satisfaction of finishing a story.

Sometimes, the right book and an encouraging adult can make all the difference.

Why Reading Matters More Than We Might Think

Reading for pleasure is about much more than improving spelling or preparing for examinations. Regular reading can support children’s development in several important ways.

1. Stronger Language and Communication Skills

Books expose young readers to new vocabulary, different sentence structures, and ways of expressing ideas.

Over time, this exposure can help develop reading comprehension, writing ability, and confidence in communication.

2. Better Critical Thinking

Stories and other written works encourage readers to interpret information, recognise patterns, question assumptions, and consider different explanations.

These skills can be useful far beyond English lessons, including in science, history, and everyday decision-making.

3. A Greater Understanding of Other People

Reading allows children to encounter characters whose lives, backgrounds, and experiences may differ considerably from their own.

By following different perspectives, readers can explore complex emotions, relationships, and moral dilemmas.

As one commenter pointed out in response to the teacher’s post, reading can also help people practise seeing the world through someone else’s eyes.

Although reading alone cannot guarantee empathy, stories can provide valuable opportunities to reflect on other people’s experiences.

4. Personal Growth and Self-Discovery

Books can help teenagers explore questions about identity, friendship, belonging, courage, and independence.

For young people navigating the challenges of adolescence, discovering characters who share their struggles can be reassuring. Other stories may introduce ideas that challenge their assumptions or help them see new possibilities.

Ms. C says she has noticed differences among the students she teaches who continue reading regularly, particularly in their critical thinking, academic engagement, and sense of self.

Her observations reflect the wider reasons educators and researchers are interested in the relationship between reading for pleasure and children’s development.

It’s worth remembering, however, that these benefits vary between individuals, and reading is one of several activities that can support learning and wellbeing.

Is Screen Time Pushing Books Aside?

It’s difficult to ignore the amount of time young people spend using digital devices.

A report cited in discussions about children’s media habits found that teenagers spent an average of eight hours and 39 minutes per day on screens, compared with approximately five and a half hours for pre-teen children.

Screen time includes many different activities, however, from schoolwork and creative projects to messaging friends, watching videos, and playing games. Not all screen use has the same effects.

The more important question may be whether digital entertainment is crowding out activities that help young people develop other interests and skills.

When short videos and constant notifications become the default way to fill every spare moment, it can be harder to make room for a longer, more sustained activity such as reading a novel.

But technology doesn’t have to be the enemy of books. Digital libraries, audiobooks, online reading groups, and book recommendations can all help young people discover stories they enjoy.

And that brings us to the surprising role of BookTok.

How BookTok Is Encouraging a New Generation of Readers

BookTok is the book-focused community on TikTok where readers share recommendations, discuss favourite characters, review novels, and react to unexpected plot twists.

For some young people, these videos have made reading feel social, exciting, and relevant to their everyday lives.

Instead of discovering books exclusively through teachers, librarians, or family members, teenagers can encounter recommendations from people their own age who share their interests.

A passionate review or an enthusiastic discussion about a fictional character can inspire someone to try a book they might never have considered reading.

BookTok can also help readers find communities where their enthusiasm for books is welcomed rather than seen as unusual.

Ms. C highlighted this positive side of TikTok, describing BookTok as one of the few forces she believes is still encouraging adolescents to read.

Her observation highlights an interesting contradiction: the same platform that can distract young people from books can also introduce them to new authors and reading communities.

Of course, not every recommendation will appeal to every reader, and popularity doesn’t automatically make a book suitable for every age group. Nevertheless, the wider lesson is encouraging.

If young people are excited about a story, they may be more willing to make time to read it.

How Parents and Schools Can Help Bring Reading Back

Reversing the decline in reading for pleasure doesn’t necessarily require banning phones or turning every book into a school assignment.

Instead, parents, teachers, and communities can help make reading an enjoyable and accessible part of young people’s lives.

Here are a few practical ways to encourage the habit:

• Let teenagers choose their own books. Graphic novels, fantasy, romance, mystery, science fiction, and non-fiction can all provide valuable reading experiences.
• Make time for reading without pressure. Even a short period of quiet reading can help establish a routine.
• Use BookTok and other online communities as starting points. Recommendations from peers can help young people find books that match their interests.
• Visit libraries and bookshops together. Giving teenagers the freedom to browse can make discovering a new story feel like an adventure.
• Let them see adults reading. Parents and teachers who enjoy books themselves can help demonstrate that reading is not simply a school requirement.
• Keep expectations encouraging but realistic. Offer support when reading feels difficult, while still giving students opportunities to tackle complete books and develop their skills.

Above all, reading should not become another source of unnecessary pressure. The aim is to help teenagers discover the enjoyment, curiosity, and sense of connection that books can offer.

A Final Thought: Perhaps Teenagers Haven’t Stopped Loving Stories

The decline in reading for pleasure is a genuine concern, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that young people have lost their interest in stories.

Many still spend hours discussing fictional characters, following dramatic storylines, and sharing their favourite narratives online. BookTok suggests that the desire to connect with stories may still be there; the challenge is helping that interest translate into more reading.

Schools have an important role to play, as do families, libraries, and the wider community. Encouraging young people to read means giving them access to appealing books, making time for the activity, and showing confidence in their ability to grow as readers.

Perhaps the most useful lesson from Ms. C’s observations is that we shouldn’t assume teenagers are incapable of developing a love of reading simply because their habits have changed.

Instead, we should ask how we can make books feel exciting, accessible, and worth their time.

And if a recommendation on TikTok inspires a teenager to put down their phone for a moment and pick up a novel, that might be a small but meaningful step in the right direction.

What do you think? Are teenagers reading less because of smartphones, changing school expectations, or a combination of factors? And can communities such as BookTok help bring the joy of reading back? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Editorial note: The statistics and teacher’s comments in this article are based on the material provided. Figures should be checked against their original research sources before publication.