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How has the rise of social media affected book reviews and critics in the literary world?

Boysie Sorsby

Hey guys!

So, let's be honest, we've all been guilty of scrolling through our social media feeds instead of picking up a book. But have you ever stopped to think about how social media has changed the way we think about book reviews and literary critics?

In the past, book reviews were typically found in newspapers or literary magazines. However, with the rise of social media, everyone and their mother has become a book critic. Whether it's a post on Instagram, a tweet on Twitter, or a review on Goodreads, it seems like everyone has something to say about the latest bestseller.

So, what does this mean for traditional literary critics? Well, it's definitely changed the game. In the past, critics were the gatekeepers of the literary world. They had the power to make or break a book with their review. But now, with social media, anyone can have a platform to voice their opinion. This can make it harder for traditional critics to be seen as the ultimate authority on books.

However, I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing. Yes, there are a lot more opinions out there, but that means there's also more diversity in the literary world. Instead of just hearing from a select few critics, we now have the opportunity to hear from a wide range of readers. This can help us discover hidden gems that we might not have otherwise known about.

Another interesting aspect of social media and book reviews is the influx of influencers and celebrities who are getting in on the action. We've all seen those posts from our favorite influencers or celebrities promoting a book. While this can be great for authors and publishers, it does raise questions about the authenticity of these reviews. Are they genuinely recommending the book, or are they just getting paid to do so? It's definitely something to consider when we're scrolling through our feeds.

Overall, I think the rise of social media has had a major impact on book reviews and critics in the literary world. While it's definitely changed the game, I believe it's opened up more opportunities for diverse voices to be heard. And who knows, maybe one of us will be the next big literary critic on social media!