So today I want to talk about BOOKSTAGRAM! Over the years I’ve seen a lot of bookish trends. We started off as every day readers, then we became readers who just so happened to review books on goodreads/amazon/B&N, then we became bloggers, then booktubers. And now we have bookstagram. At first I loved Bookstagram. Seeing people post picture of what they’re currently reading or want to read was fun. Seeing people interact on Instagram because of books is always something that feels me with warm and fuzzies. But there’s been a shift in bookstagram that I’m just done with. It started with props. I get it. Add a cute vase here, maybe a funko there. Nerd it up. Pretty it up. Make it stand out. But it turned from one or two props and maybe a nice backdrop to find Waldo in book form. Look, your Instagram is for YOU. It is not my place or business to tell anyone what to post. I just wanted to talk about the changes I’m seeing. Pictures went from conversations about the book to, promos and ads for subscription boxes. I’ve had to unfollow so many accounts because I legit couldn’t even figure out where the book was or why the post was even there, just because there was so much stuff in the shot. Again, not telling you how to post, just putting out there that I’ve noticed a change and it’s not a change I’m down with.
Then there are the endless hastags. Anytime I click “see more” and there are more hashtags than words we have a problem. And almost always it’s something ad related. I get wanting to monetize off the hard work and effort that goes into bookstagram but I miss those simple accounts. Those accounts that don’t use a billion filters, or professional lights, or the equivalent of my rent in props.
It could just be that I’m getting older and all that just doesn’t appeal to me. It could be that I see how it could be intimidating to a newbie. Whatever the case may be, I’m looking for IG recs where the accounts are focused on the books. Or where the love of the aesthetics at least matches the love of the book. So please leave those handles below and tell me! Have you notice this shift? What are your thoughts?!
I haven’t been on bookstagram for very long but I have unfollowed some accounts for reasons similar to yours. I also tend to just prefer a more minimal aesthetic, but it seems like in order to be a “successful” bookstagrammer, you need to use 1,001 props. I saw a photo that had what looked like a real sword the other day and it’s kind of disheartening because that also makes it so much harder to get into bookstagram because people expect these lush photos with a million things in them that aren’t books, when really what I care about, like you, is just the books themselves. I also agree that it seems like a lot of bookstagram is promoting subscription boxes, which I guess isn’t a *bad* thing, but I don’t want a ton of extra ads in my feed that are just people trying to monetize their accounts.
*rant over*
It does seem that Bookstagram is a community where the trend is “have more props than books”. I tend to enjoy having the focus on one book and if there are random stuff in the photo, then that’s okay, but I generally love a lot of minimalistic themes, like Mel. I don’t hate the hashtags, really. What I do however dislike is the fact that it seems as if you’re “in” the community if you share photos of overhyped books. Which I tend to not do at all. I do overdo it with the hashtags, but again, I’m not too bothered by it. I’m bothered by the many props, which most of the time are too expensive. I tend to make my own or not use any at all. As for monetizing…I get it. Bookstagram really does take a lot of time and effort, so if people want to get something other than likes and followers for the free promo, that’s fine with me. I just don’t appreciate the fact that most of the accounts that do get to monetize their work seem to be so similar to each other. At the same time though, the algorithm really sucks and it’s so hard for new accounts or really different accounts to shine through. For example my home feed prefers to let me see similar posts from different accounts even if they’re two days old, instead of the more minimalistic ones that are new-ish.
Ruby Jo recently posted…Blog Tour Book Review: The Darkest Warrior by Gena Showalter
I am all for a perfect shot of whatever you are reading…but holy crap has it gotten ridiculous lately. Some has the most insane filters on them too. I just gave up on trying to do any of that stuff, because I don’t have the time nor energy to try and redecorate my house every time I want to take a picture. I still post on Instagram but I spend most of my time on Litsy now. Most people there don’t do fancy shots, and if they do you can tell which book they are talking about. It’s like if Goodreads and Instagram had a baby, and it grew up to be super welcoming and inclusive. And like only relevant hashtags (like if you are posting for a swap or book club). It’s super chill.
Bookstagram pretty much stresses me out these days, and some of the best accounts are those ignored because of the larger more clutter “perfect: accounts.
Def an interesting topic, as I’m a minimalist when posing photos and I can’t get the darn thing to post even one word of commentary let alone links to book sites via hashtags!
So it’s defeating when I comment on everyone else’s ig’s yet can barely get a photo to post 😉
Thanks for bringing this up…
I’m faith.hope.cherrytea on ig doing my tiny bit to promo my books and reading if anyone wants to find me. And I do follow back !
ps- any word on Arc August ?
Faith Hope and Cherrytea recently posted…High Summer Readathon – July 2018