JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Reading may no longer be a dying activity, and we may be able to thank social media for that.

According to some people, social media would result in the end of reading or at least reading a tangible book.

However, John Evans, owner of Lemuria Book Store in Jackson, says that he has seen a lot of fluctuation over the years in the number of people reading and buying books.

“There was a real uptick 12, 13 years ago when there began to be a saturation of the e-reader,

and all the e-books and stuff online,” said Evans “And that was kind of burning out because the experience is so shallow.”

Now, social media, specifically platforms like TikTok, could be the reason people are picking up a book again.

Bookseller Sarah Gregg with Lemuria says that trends like book hauls and book talks are especially drawing the younger generations to read.

“So I think that helps a lot and I do think that social media is a big aspect for me at least,” said Gregg. “I get most of my book recommendations from social media and the different kind of communities I’m a part of on that.”

Aidan Thomas, also a bookseller at Lemuria, says that he enjoys simply sitting in a bookstore for the atmosphere.

“Just getting lost in this bookstore and just wandering around with no real, you know, direction or you know, any real kind of thought about what you want to read next or what have you,” said Thomas.

Acie Lewis says that he prefers to have an actual book in his hands.

“Because just the personalization of it all and even just being able to collect them and have the actual book opposed to an iPad or something which could just down at any moment, you know,” said Lewis. “But it just feels better to actually have the book in your hand.”

Both chain stores and local businesses are seeing an uptick in customers.

According to MSN, Barnes & Noble will be opening 60 new stores in 2025 and they are crediting TikTok for that surge.

Booksellers are saying to put your phone down and pick a book up.

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