Rabat – TikTok is usually blamed for making people forget how to concentrate for more than 30 seconds.
In Morocco, however, the platform is also doing something slightly unexpected getting people away from TikTok, getting them to read books.
What is Moroccan bookTok?
BookTok is not exactly new. The global community has become a major force boosting books sales after being recommended by creators.
In Morocco, the trend is taking on a more local identity, such as #moroccanbooktok
Moroccan creators are talking about books in the languages they actually use, including Darija, Arabic, French, or English.
They share their favorite books, brag about fictional characters, bond over heartbreaking endings, post reading updates and, occasionally, try to explain why they stayed awake until 3 a.m because of a book.
Why bookTok and not bookstores?
Well, bookTok’s appeal is simple. It makes it easier to discover books and have a community to talk to.
The phone is set aside, the book is ordered or picked up, and somehow, TikTok has managed to do the unexpected: inspire someone to put the screen down and start reading.
But when books become trends
The positive side of BookTok comes with a catch. TikTok rewards content that is quick, emotional, and easy to understand.
A complicated literary novel does not necessarily make a good 30-second video. A dramatic romance with a shocking plot twist probably does.
As a result, certain genres, particularly romance, fantasy, and young-adult fiction, can dominate BookTok.
What gets left out?
Perhaps the biggest concern is diversity.
Books that perform well on TikTok are often books that can be easily packaged into a strong emotional reaction or an attractive video.
This can leave lesser-known genres and authors struggling to receive the same level of attention.
For Morocco, this raises an interesting question: Can the country’s BookTok community help Moroccan literature become more visible, or will global BookTok trends continue to dominate the conversation?
The answer may depend on the creators themselves.
If Moroccan BookTok continues to spotlight local authors, Arabic literature, and books beyond the global bestseller lists, it could become more than just a local take on an international trend. It could carve out a distinct literary identity of its own.
