The rapid advancement of digital technology has transformed the creation, distribution and reception of literary texts, significantly altering the traditional relationship between authors, texts and readers. Digital literature introduces interactive, multimedia and hypertextual forms of storytelling that encourage readers to become active participants in the construction of meaning rather than passive recipients of written narratives. This study examines the changing role of the reader in digital literature by exploring how digital platforms reshape reading practices, interpretation and reader engagement. Employing a qualitative research methodology based on textual and theoretical analysis, the study investigates the participatory nature of digital narratives, including hypertext fiction, electronic literature and multimedia storytelling. It further analyses how technological innovation has expanded opportunities for reader interaction, collaboration and personalised reading experiences while redefining conventional concepts of authorship and textual authority. The findings indicate that digital literature has transformed the reader into an active co-creator of meaning through navigation, choice and interpretation. The study finds that digital literature makes a significant contribution to contemporary literary discourse by challenging traditional reading practices and fostering new forms of literary engagement, thereby redefining the relationship between technology, literature and the evolving role of the reader in the digital age.
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