A good fiction novel has multiple aspects: of course entertainment/escapism, but also a larger point the author wants to explore. With Asoiaf George Martin wanted to break/subvert classic fantasy tropes. For example that the good guy wins (Rob Stark is marrying for love and punished for that in the red wedding) or the romantic knightly quest, here done by Brianne of Tarth, an ugly/strong woman instead of a male fighter.

I am not sure how important fiction novels are (compared to reading non-fiction books or biographies who tell true facts about the real world), but I would say they broaden the horizon of the reader? And there is a selection effect in that “literature” was done by pretty smart people.

Scrolling TikTok is often described as mindless and with people not describing later what videos they watched. In general short form content (TikTok, Instagram, X/Tweets) seem to be much more superficial than long form content (eg this hn discussion board).