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Thanks for all the weigh ins. All of you more or less seem to echo the same thoughts I have about the articles. I did find it interesting because I've seen something similar with BookTube last year - people were making apologetic videos because there were accusations floating around about if they was harm in so many Booktubers always having their background full of books and if this was promoting a buying culture too much to where it was unhealthy. I find it a little similar.
It spoke to me as well because I'm in both camps. I've always been an active reader, but got into Goodreads heavily at the beginning of my thirties for the fun of it - got wrapped into reading challenges, invited to Goodreads headquarters in San Francisco, modded a few groups, have a book blog started in my 20's (here and there active on it), but over the past few years have gotten into Bookstagram on Instagram and take part on Twitter for multiple monthly reading challenges. I love read-a-thons because I am now drawn to the social aspect of reading as well - I love sharing pictures of the morning coffee ritual and snacks chosen for the readathon with others and seeing theirs - we share the reading companion pet photos on Discord and Reddit, post our planned reading lists to fit the challenges, talk about completed books, pick out new reading spots with photos for instagram with the books.
There's nothing wrong with reading and having no interest in participating in social media about it, it's just something I enjoy that fits my personality. I think part of the draw is reading IS a solitary activity, and some people who are heavy readers feel isolated offline with their hobby and want to make connections about it online as their only form, for the fun of it. That's my case anyway.
I think the challenges, read-a-thons, photos, and events can become a secondary hobby in addition to reading. I don't make Booktube videos but I get that it also becomes a big hobby for those who do. Review writing can be a hobby in itself if you put a lot of time into it, have it planned, whether on GR, Amazon, or a blog. I find it a bit depressing the original article writer doesn't see that, but instead is assuming that those who talk about books a lot online and indulge in photos and routines with others may mainly be doing it just for show but not into reading. To me the draw is originally reading, and they want to discuss this hobby so it naturally grows from there.
And to assume a lot of readers who participate heavily in social media do not read classics, or "serious lit", is a wrong assumption. Every read-a-thon I see people reading classics, or searching out books from POC or diversity to expand their horizons and give all authors a voice.
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