Can TikTok’s Popularity Boost Diversity and Reverse the Reading Decline?

According to the National Literacy Trust, there has been an “historic low” in the number of children reading for pleasure. Only one in three young people describe themselves as regular readers.

However, English teacher Katie Nelson at Belle Vue Girls Academy in Bradford is seeing success with diverse stories and TikTok in her classroom. She believes that seeing themselves represented helps build confidence among students.

Belle Vue caters to over 1,100 pupils from various cultural backgrounds, making it a fitting location for the city’s year as UK City of Culture. Publisher Penguin has donated 5,000 books by diverse authors to secondary schools in Bradford.

Student Fasanya, aged 15, says celebrating authors from different backgrounds encourages more reading and writing. She feels proud when she reads books written by Nigerian authors because it highlights her cultural heritage.

The National Literacy Trust’s annual survey shows the lowest levels of literacy since the surveys began in 2005. In Yorkshire and the Humber, only 37% of young people are regular readers, down from previous years.

Access to books is a significant barrier for children living in financial deprivation. The cost-of-living crisis has impacted parents’ ability to buy books and schools’ resources. This perfect storm creates challenges for reading engagement among young people.

The National Literacy Trust encourages the use of social media, such as BookTok on TikTok, to promote reading enjoyment. They believe that involving children in discussions about literature can broaden their interest in different reading materials.

Belle Vue pupil Sarah, aged 14, says she never enjoyed reading until she discovered BookTok and started recommending books from her English teacher’s collection. She finds fiction books an escape from reality and a way to “live a thousand lives.”