Picture this: You’ve just gotten home from a long day at school or work, ready to unwind. You plop down on your couch or bed, open TikTok, and start scrolling, hoping for some fun book content. But instead of exciting recommendations, it’s the same old lineup: a romance featuring a brooding male lead, a fantasy romance with “shadow daddies,” and maybe—if you’re lucky—a morally gray anti-hero. You keep scrolling, even though you hate everything. Talk about brain rot…
It’s like being trapped in a literary Groundhog Day. Sound familiar? Before you roll your eyes and throw your phone across the room, let me explain how you can break out of the cycle.
The Algorithm’s Not Broken—You Need to Curate it
As annoying as it is to admit, the content we consume on TikTok is partially our own doing. Yes, the algorithm pushes certain videos forward more than others, however it’s called the For-You-Page for a reason.
Instead of scrolling through your FYP or searching #BookTok hoping to find something you’ll like, try looking up books or authors you already love. As you scroll through the search, engage with content that catches your attention. You’re so much more likely to come across creators and recommendations you actually enjoy. Check out these creators’ accounts to see what books they’re recommending, and keep engaging with their content. Before you know it, you will be served with a brand new FYP.
The Bigger Issue: Surface-Level BookTok
While the algorithm might feel repetitive, the real issue runs deeper: BookTok’s surface-level content often defaults to recommending books by white authors and promoting white creators. This doesn’t reflect the true diversity of people on the app. There are so many incredible content creators of color, yet they’re rarely pushed forward by the algorithm. As Lee, @books.with.lee on TikTok, points out, whiteness shouldn’t be the default—users “shouldn’t have to dig and dig just to find one book by a Black author.” BookTok has the potential to amplify all kinds of voices and stories, but instead, it’s stuck in an echo chamber that just keeps repeating the same narratives.
That’s why it’s so important to take control and be intentional about the content we consume—not just on BookTok, but across all media. Instead of mindlessly scrolling, take the time to curate your feed so that when you open an app, you’re met with content that aligns with your values and interests. Otherwise, you’re not consuming content—it’s consuming you. Protect your autonomy and stay mindful of what you allow to enter your mind.