If crap books are pulling kids that wouldn't have been literate into reading, that's good. If crap books are crowding out quality, and causing kids to read garbage when 20 years ago they would have read something that wasn't wish fulfillment populated by stereotypes, that's bad.
I think that the internet is good because more people are reading because of it. I don't know that young adult trash is attracting people who would have instead read good things if it weren't for massive marketing budgets aimed at children. If it is, it's contributing to making (US) society stupider and less competitive.
I can't speak for anyone else, but (almost) 20 years ago I was finishing off my public library's shelf of Hardy Boys books and starting to beg my parents for whatever the newest Star Wars novel was. I don't think anyone is seriously arguing that, by and large, modern YA fiction is high art, but it's a tough case to make that they've gotten more pulpy than their predecessors.
Having a couple kids in this range, I'm really seeing both sides of this now.
First, they do read these books. Their friends read them too, this is a good thing.
However, they never have to leave that range of books dedicated to their age group. They seem to be interchangeable as well.
Additionally, it seems like the concept of mass market paperback has evaporated in this age range. I feel like there is some gouging going on with customers who aren't as price sensitive because they probably aren't spending their own money.
For my kids high school has changed that. My older daughter went through all the popular series but also had to read stuff like "secret life of bees" and ended up enjoying that.
I think that the internet is good because more people are reading because of it. I don't know that young adult trash is attracting people who would have instead read good things if it weren't for massive marketing budgets aimed at children. If it is, it's contributing to making (US) society stupider and less competitive.