In an effort to uphold the integrity of literary reviews, Goodreads has rolled out new measures to combat “review bombing,” responding to a phenomenon where books are swamped with negative ratings, often by individuals who haven’t even read them.

Read: Book reviews: erosion of trust due to AI, bombing and misrepresentation

The move follows a recent report by PEN America that highlighted the issue as a significant problem in online literary circles.

Goodreads launches anti-review bombing measures

The community-driven book recommendation site has long been a hub for bibliophiles to exchange insights on their latest reads, contributing an impressive 26 million reviews and 300 million ratings over the past year alone. Amid this vibrant exchange, however, have been growing concerns over the authenticity of reviews and ratings.

“We are committed to ensuring the reviews on Goodreads are trustworthy, relevant, and authentic for readers and authors,” a spokesperson for Goodreads stated, emphasising the importance of diverse opinions while maintaining a zero-tolerance stance on harassment and irrelevant content.

Goodreads has strengthened account verification, expanded its customer service team, and enhanced reporting tools for its members to flag problematic content. A notable new feature is the ability to temporarily restrict ratings and reviews during periods of unusual activity, a direct countermeasure to review bombing.

PEN America endorses Goodreads’ policy update

These actions were applauded by Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, who remarked, “As a prominent platform for book discovery, Goodreads has an obligation to defend the freedom to read and prevent practices on its platform that detract from reasoned literary discourse.” PEN America’s report, titled “Booklash: Literary Freedom, Online Outrage, and the Language of Harm,” had warned of the chilling effect social media backlash and review bombing could have on literary freedom and expression.

Hence, Goodreads calls on its community to be vigilant and report any violations of guidelines, underscoring the collective responsibility in maintaining an environment where readers and authors can share authentic reviews and engage in meaningful dialogue. The new policy changes mark a significant step in Goodreads’ ongoing efforts to protect the space for genuine literary discussion and discovery.