These days, it’s hard to believe every YA book doesn’t feature social media heavily. After all, from how we communicate to how we find out new things to how others see us and how we see ourselves, social media seems to be the arbiter of it all.
In A Lie for a Lie, though the antagonist (@Revenge) operates via social media, the story itself is really an age-old tale of friendship, betrayal, jealousy, and the struggles of being young. Here are a few of my favorite reads that are more addictive than scrolling through TikTok at 2 AM!
“The Rumor Game” by Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra examines the impact of social media and cyberbullying in an elite DC prep school. It shows how quickly rumors can spread through social media, affecting relationships and reputations.
Jenny Lee’s “Anna K: A Love Story” offers a modern retelling of “Anna Karenina” set in New York City’s prep school scene. It’s hard to know what Tolstoy would have thought of how this version incorporates social media as a key element in shaping the characters’ social dynamics. Something tells me he wouldn’t be on TikTok.
For those interested in near-future scenarios, “Girl Gone Viral” by Arvin Ahmadi presents a world dominated by virtual reality platforms. It’s kind of crazy how much has changed since the book was published in 2020, and how much Ahmadi envisioned. It looks at themes of online fame and the power of internet moguls, all through a high-stakes VR contest.
“Eliza and Her Monsters” by Francesca Zappia tells a touching story about a shy teenager who finds confidence in her online identity as a popular webcomic creator. It thoughtfully examines the contrast between online and offline relationships.
Emma Lord’s “Tweet Cute” centers on a Twitter (now X) feud between two teens from competing family businesses. This romantic comedy looks at how social media can complicate and facilitate modern relationships.
“Girl Online” by Zoe Sugg follows a teenager who blogs anonymously about her life, including her struggles with anxiety. The book delves into issues of online privacy and the pressures of internet fame.
Of course, I can’t not mention my personal favorite, “Influence” by Sara Shepard and Lilia Buckingham. The story follows four young influencers navigating the competitive world of social media fame. When one of them disappears, the lines between their curated online personas and their real lives begin to blur.
Each of these books offer diverse perspectives on how social media influences teenagers’ lives, relationships, and self-perception. And while some of the specific social media forms or trends may change, the themes and characters in all of these books will make you want to “like” and “share” to your friends.
About Jane Buckingham
Jane Buckingham is the Founder and CEO of Trendera. She is one of the countries’ leading experts on Generations X, Y, and Z. Trendera provides trends, consulting, and market research to Fortune 500 clients including The Coca Cola Company, L’Oreal, NBC Universal, Nike, Sony, and Target.
Prior to starting Trendera, Buckingham helped pioneer the trend forecasting field by creating the leading youth marketing and consulting firm Youth Intelligence, and The Cassandra Report in 1996, both of which she sold to Creative Artists Agency in 2003.
At 17, Buckingham wrote the book Teens Speak Out to help explain her generation. She was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show and many others.
Jane is the bestselling author of the Modern Girl’s Guide book series and starred in the TV show of the same name. Buckingham has been a contributing editor to Glamour Magazine and Cosmopolitan Magazine. She has been featured in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, 60 Minutes and The Los Angeles Times. Buckingham has served on the Board of Directors for Baby2Baby, The Rape Treatment Center at St. John’s Hospital and Women in Film.
Connect with Jane Buckingham at janebuckingham.com or on Instagram @JaneBuckingham and LinkedIn.
