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Savewith a NBCUniversal ProfileCreate your free profile or log in to save this articleOct. 14, 2025, 5:12 PM EDTBy Angela YangBefore Sebastian Castillo cracks open a book on the bus, he has an intrusive thought: Should he tap the stranger next to him on the shoulder and clarify that yes, he’s starting this book on Page 1, but he has, in fact, read many other books before?Castillo, a novelist and English literature instructor, said he realizes that is extreme. He’d never do that. But the urge reflects a recent anxiety that has burgeoned around the act of reading in public in the digital age, when everything is scrutinized as possibly “performative.”“If you’re on the bus or at the park or at a cafe, nobody really cares about you or what you’re doing,” said Castillo, 37. “And so I think it’s, more than anything, just kind of a silly way to think about how people tend to observe themselves more than how other people observe them.”It’s a feeling that many people have started to put into words.On social media, real and staged videos of people reading at coffee shops, on escalators or at basketball games have become fodder for jokes about “performative reading,” or the idea that people want to look like they’re reading without actually doing so. Some have playfully shared their own lists of books they deem suitable to “read performatively” on public transit. The singer Sombr even poked fun at the concept in the middle of a concert this year.Many of the callouts are simply memes, running jokes for people to get in on. But avid readers say the concept of reading for social points is a very real phenomenon that has unwittingly influenced how people approach books.The discourse around so-called performative reading is the latest iteration of a broader cultural fixation on authenticity in the era of casual social media surveillance — when anything done in public could be farmed for content and people could find themselves going viral at any time.And it’s not just books. “Performative male” contests have also popped up across the United States this year in which people offer their own tongue-in-cheek versions of men who dress and act in ways that come off as socially aware — complete with tote bags, matcha lattes and dog-eared copies of feminist literature under their arms.That idea has particularly resonated in the online book community.On platforms like TikTok, Instagram, X and Goodreads, bookish users often tout images of impressive titles and aesthetically pleasing reading setups or monthly reading lists with dozens of books already checked off.Raol Muong, a creator who shares video essays about internet culture, made a TikTok video analyzing why books have seemingly become the new accessory in public spaces, as well as in literary circles online. “Especially on TikTok and in Instagram Reels, we can see that the algorithm basically rewards what looks good, like the eye-catching cover and the staged coffee shots in a downtown cafe,” said Muong, 17. “They’re focusing on what looks good and not whether the book is being read or not. And I think, because of this, platforms turn books into basically aesthetic props to curate in their Instagram dumps.”Muong said literary classics by the likes of Jane Austen and Joan Didion appear more performative, as it’s tempting to scrutinize whether people are carrying around popularly renowned books to give off an air of intellectualism or good taste.Even some longtime readers say they’ve sometimes been influenced by the pressure to perform.Éva Jéga-Szabó, a book lover since she was a young child, typically reads about 50 books a year. But she said the online culture of judgment around how quickly people read, or even the format in which they read — in some circles, audiobooks don’t count — pushed her to change her habits.“I found myself going for shorter books or novellas rather than what I actually wanted to read. I was pushing for the numbers rather than just engaging with literature the way I wanted. And only recently, when I stopped being attached to the numbers, did I start enjoying it again,” said Jéga-Szabó, 25. “I see this from a lot of people who say that they feel a lot of pressure and shame and they’re going through these reading slogs and they don’t want to read anymore.”Selwa Khan, a recent university graduate who enjoys sharing her reads on social media, said she feels it’s common for many online, including her, to “aestheticize our hobbies” for content. But Khan, 21, said a little bit of performance doesn’t necessarily take away from the authentic joy of reading.“I think social media makes everybody perform, whether they acknowledge it or not,” she said. “We’re all performing, and a lot of us are saying that we’re not performing, but the fact that you’re on a platform at all implies the existence of performance, right?”Khan said she also takes issue with the assumption that any visible reading must be an act, noting that that mindset only reveals the people who can’t imagine themselves genuinely taking pleasure in a book.“I’ve seen for years posts on BookTok, Bookstagram and all these platforms of titles that are ‘performative,’ which always happen to be titles that I really enjoy,” Khan said. “So there’s always this thought in my head of: What makes these performative? Or are people just projecting their own insecurities with reading?”Much of the mockery around performative reading seems to take aim at men. Over time, reading has taken on a reputation of being more of a woman-dominated activity. Many in-person book clubs have also noticed a dearth of male members. To some online, that has led to the perception that heterosexual men are so unlikely to pick up a book that if one is reading, he must be trying to impress a woman.Jafei Pollitt, a frequent reader who has jokingly pushed back against that meme online, said she hopes young men don’t take the trend too seriously or let it discourage them from reading in public.“Even if it is to impress a girl, if they do have a feminist piece of literature in their hand and they are actually reading it, I don’t quite see the harm in that,” said Pollitt, 27. “Because they’re getting some knowledge in their brain, and by the end of it, they might genuinely be like, ‘Oh, this is how to respect women.’”Similarly, Pollitt said, she doesn’t judge anyone who does appear to be reading performatively, because even pretending to read still encourages somebody to actually take in the words.“It’s a little bit of ‘fake until you make it.’ Yes, you can start off wanting to read for the aesthetics, but eventually you might involve yourself in the book, and you actually might like reading,” she said. “So as long as the book is in your hand and you’re reading the book, I don’t know if it totally matters how you got there.”Angela YangAngela Yang is a culture and trends reporter for NBC News.

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Oct. 14, 2025, 6:26 PM EDTBy Daniella Silva and Natasha KoreckiCHICAGO — A teacher said tear gas drifted toward a school playground, forcing students and recess indoors. A viral video recorded near another school showed law enforcement dragging a woman out of her van and onto the ground. And students say they have seen ICE vehicles in their neighborhoods, leading them to feel frightened, according to one instructor. Educators say those incidents and others that have taken place as federal immigration agents increase arrests in Chicago are disrupting their jobs, upending their communities and traumatizing their students.“Everyone’s very anxious,” said Sheena Shukla, a school social worker for Chicago Public Schools. “Can you imagine telling a 12-year-old that people are out there who might want to take their family? We can’t shield our children from these realities, so we provide them with a level of support that they can understand.” In response, school staff members have organized teams to report and respond to Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity around their schools, including patrolling the area, keeping concerned parents informed and helping escort some families to and from school, according to members of the Chicago Teachers Union. That work includes talking to their students in age-appropriate ways about what’s going on in their communities in a city that is nearly 30% Latino and more than 22% foreign-born, Shukla said.Armed federal agents clash with protesters in Chicago03:13The Chicago Public Schools district is holding daily calls with city leaders and its labor partners. It said in a statement to NBC News that while there has been law enforcement activity near some schools, there have been no incidents inside its schools and facilities. Nonetheless, the district and the Chicago Teachers Union have been issuing guidance and taking steps in preparation for federal immigration enforcement since President Donald Trump returned to office in January.“School remains the safest and best place for students. CPS staff have safety protocols, including how to respond if federal representatives seek access to school property or interaction with students or staff,” the district said.The district has also been vocal about the fact that it does not collaborate with federal immigration enforcement agencies, including ICE. Agents will not be granted access to its schools unless they present a “valid criminal judicial warrant signed by a federal judge,” the district said in its statement.The Department of Homeland Security referred NBC News to a statement saying ICE does not target schools or children. “ICE is not going to schools to make arrests of children. Criminals are no longer able to hide in America’s schools to avoid arrest. The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement and instead trusts them to use common sense,” DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said in the statement. “If a dangerous illegal alien felon were to flee into a school, or a child sex offender is working as an employee, there may be a situation where an arrest is made to protect public safety. But this has not happened.” On Tuesday, DHS said on social media that its enforcement surge in the area, known as Operation Midway Blitz, “is making Illinois SAFE again” and had arrested over 1,500 people across Illinois, including criminals and gang members.Last week, Chicago Teachers Union officials met with about a dozen teachers at Funston Elementary School to talk about a recent incident involving immigration officials and tear gas being deployed near the school.More on immigration enforcement in IllinoisHow immigration enforcement turned sleepy Broadview into a chaotic, militarized townIllinois officials issue orders and file lawsuits as protesters clash with immigration agentsBodycam videos show ICE agents’ initial reactions to fatal Chicago shootingIllinois Gov. JB Pritzker calls armed immigration officers in Chicago an ‘attack on Americans’Maria Heavener, a first grade teacher at the school, described how she was teaching on Oct. 3 when she heard what sounded like helicopters, horns blowing on the street and a whistle educators used to announce ICE activity. She then saw a message from a fifth grade teacher at the school who spotted ICE “less than 100 feet from our building” while walking to a store called Rico Fresh Market for lunch. “Tear gas filled the streets, blowing into the parking lot of Rico Fresh and towards the direction of our playground across the street,” Heavener said at a news conference with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.A class that had been outside was quickly pulled inside so it was not affected by the tear gas, Heavener said. The school said in a letter to families that it held recess indoors for the rest of the day out of an abundance of caution and that staff members were well-versed in the protocols for keeping students safe.By dismissal time, about 100 community members were lined up and down the streets near the school, “creating safe passage for our children and families and sending a clear message that ICE is not welcome in our community,” Heavener said.DHS did not respond to a request for comment about enforcement activity and deploying tear gas near the school or concerns about using chemical agents near schools.“There is no institution available right now that is constructed to deal with the trauma, the impact that our young people and their families and our communities are experiencing,” CTU President Stacy Davis Gates said.Heavener and other school staff members told NBC News they have seen a drop in attendance as the immigration enforcement operations have increased. “Some families and students, they’re not leaving the home,” said Shukla, the social worker.Videos of apparent immigration enforcement activity around the city have kept teachers on high alert, including a recent viral post showing federal agents taking a woman out of her car and putting her on the ground while they were detaining her. The person who recorded and posted the video said that she is a teacher and that the incident took place near the school they work at during dismissal as parents were picking up their children. The teacher claimed she heard students shouting “It’s ICE!” and running away. NBC News could not independently verify the details described in the post, and the poster of the video did not immediately respond to a request for comment. DHS said in a statement about the incident that while it was conducting targeted immigration enforcement operations, Border Patrol was “harassed and recklessly followed by agitators with megaphones and whistles who began to yell inflammatory remarks and alerted the public of the officers’ presence.”“They were driving recklessly, including weaving between lanes and putting other motorists at risk. Following the driver abruptly stopping in the middle of traffic near a school, law enforcement approached the vehicle,” McLaughlin said. “The occupants refused to exit the vehicle and follow law enforcement commands.”She said the people in the car were two immigrants in the country illegally from Mexico but did not identify them or specify whether they were detained.A teacher at a school in Englewood, a neighborhood in Chicago’s South Side, told NBC News that students have reported witnessing ICE vans near their homes or driving by during recess. The teacher said that during a check-in with a seventh-grade class, a student said “she was feeling sad because she witnessed somebody getting abducted by ICE. Immediately, the entire class just became a discussion of ICE activity.” The teacher, who asked to remain anonymous because of fears that federal immigration agents could target his school community, said some of his students’ family members have been arrested by immigration agents.“It ripples out. Now there are other students who are missing their friends,” he said. Heavener said her young students have a hard time comprehending what is going on.When school returned the Monday after the incident near Funston Elementary, Heavener said, she asked her first grade class how they were feeling and whether they had questions about what happened.Some were confused, and others “knew exactly what Immigrations and Customs Enforcement was, they knew what a tear gas canister was.”“They were telling me that they feel sad and they feel scared. It doesn’t make sense to them,” she said. “In social studies, we’re also doing a unit on community, about getting along with others, about rules and laws, about citizenship and respect, and they’re seeing all of these things be violated in real time. The things that they’re learning and the things that they’re seeing outside of the window don’t line up.” Heavener asked students to share a word that described how they felt. Most said “scared” or “worried.” Then one student said they felt brave, she said.The student said, “I feel brave, because at the end of the day, did you see how many neighbors were outside? They were there to keep us safe,” she recounted.“Then another kid, encouraged by that, said: ‘I feel confident, because I know school is the safest place to be. My mom was telling me that school, they can’t come into our school,’” Heavener said. “I think that is also what gave me hope in the moment.”Daniella SilvaDaniella Silva is a national reporter for NBC News, focusing on immigration and education.Natasha KoreckiNatasha Korecki is a senior national political reporter for NBC News.

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Oct. 27, 2025, 6:00 AM EDTBy Rohan NadkarniWhen the Kansas City Chiefs started the season 1-2, many were quick to cast doubt on the contending capabilities of the reigning AFC champions — NBC News included. So, in the interest of fairness, it deserves to be noted: Since Week 4, the Chiefs’ offense is finally starting to resemble what it did during the heights of their dynastic run. And that should terrify the rest of the league. Entering Week 8, Kansas City ranked sixth in points per game, which would be the team’s best mark since 2022 when it finished first in scoring. Before this week’s slate of games, the Chiefs were fifth in yards per game, also their best since 2022.After finishing near the middle of the pack in both scoring and yardage a year ago, Kansas City is starting to get hot. Patrick Mahomes has his best passer rating since 2022, and is also on pace for his most passing touchdowns since that season. The Chiefs have also scored at least 28 points in each of their last four games — the first time they’ve done so since 2021.“We have a lot of weapons. We have a lot of guys and they all love each other, and they want each other to succeed,” Mahomes said after a 31-0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7. “We want to be better than what we are now, but this was a good step in the right direction.”More from SportsFormer Jets center Nick Mangold dies at 41, less than 2 weeks after announcing he had kidney diseaseLSU wanted its coach gone. It could cost $54 million.‘Nightmare for the league’: Gambling scandal roils the NBAA big reason for Kansas City’s success has been the improved play of its pass catchers. Despite the Chiefs spending the fifth-lowest amount on their receivers this year, that group has started to exceed expectations. Per ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, over the first three weeks of the season, only 46% of Kansas City’s passes were thrown to open receivers. Beginning in Week 4, that number increased to 62.7% after the win over the Raiders, the best mark in the NFL. Against Las Vegas, the Chiefs received another boost with the return of receiver Rashee Rice, who missed the first six games of the season due to a suspension as a result of an April 2024 arrest.A second-round pick in 2023, Rice was sensational as a rookie, catching 79 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. But he played in only four games last year before undergoing season-ending surgery on his knee. In his first action of the season in Week 7, Rice had seven catches for 42 yards and two scores.“I thought the whole receiving crew did a nice job, but it was great to have him back,” head coach Andy Reid said after the Raiders win. “The energy he brings is just tremendous.”If the recent offensive surge is sustainable, then Kansas City is a much more dangerous team than it showed early in the season. The defense has been spectacular in its own right, ranking fourth in total yards allowed and third in points per game allowed entering Week 8.Even though the Chiefs would only be in seventh place in the AFC with a win over the Washington Commanders on Monday, they appear to be peaking as we enter the second half of the NFL season. “We’re going to get even more and more in sync with having the full arsenal,” tight end Travis Kelce said following the return of Rice in Week 7. “As long as we keep playing unselfish and getting excited for each other, the sky’s the limit for this group.”Rohan NadkarniRohan Nadkarni is a sports reporter for NBC News.

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