The Effect of Social Media on the Publishing Industry

Abstract

This project discusses the effect that social media has had on the publishing industry, as well as on authors and readers. I will discuss how the publishing industry has changed as authors are becoming expected to do their own marketing through social media, as well as how social media has encouraged self-publishing rather than authors approaching a traditional publisher. This paper also explores the relationship between authors and their readers, and the ways in which those relationships were affected as social media became increasingly prevalent. Authors are expected to build platforms in order to market their own books, as well as build relationships with influencers. Readers also have a larger impact on authors, potentially even during the writing process. Readers also are able to build communities on social media that cater to their specific reading interests, which can affect publishing trends as certain genres become more popular. This paper explores the positive and negative affects social media can have on the publishing industry, and whether the fast-paced changes brought on by social media do more harm than good for authors and readers.

Year Manuscript Completed

Spring 2026

Senior Project Advisor

Heather Roy

Degree Awarded

Bachelor of Integrated Studies Degree

Field of Study

Communications

Document Type

Thesis

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