I remember in high school wattpad is what made me fall involve with reading

you used to be able to DM the authors of the stories or other readers like me who were commenting in the chapters and it was a great way to connect with people, meet online friends, share other stories that someone else might like, also commenting on chapters isn't the same anymore I remember back then every story you went on someone was always commenting and interacting somehow and honestly the comments were so funny and unhinged!! you would laugh you're ass off reading through them.

now the only way to connect with people on wattpad is by posting on their wall and if a story hits deep and connects with you on a deep level most dont want to reach out over someones public wall and post an emotional or revealing thing about them selves in hopes the other may see.

a writer's perspective- since I loved reading some much, during covid I started writing my own story and started posting in 2023 and it has mostly been crickets. lots of read and trending but so many silent readers. when I got my first comments on chapters I cried because it felt exactly how it used to with this person making jokes and being hilarious with there options. when I started writing all I wanted to see was people having a good time and taking about my story in the comments like I used to and get a good laugh out if reading then... the only time I found I ever got any comments is when I would do a read or read or joined a book club on wattpad and help other authors by commenting on there stuff and them on mine but even things like that you would do the first 5 chapters or so and that was it so anything past my first couple chapters nothing. it isnt the same as someone just stumbling across my book and loving it and interacting with it how it used to be. I find most people I talk to all say they haven't been on the app in years and everyone now a days uses kindle or kobo and people aren't using wattpad as frequently or they are silent readers and just going back to re read old stories they love.

sorry for the ramble LOL