Booktok – the TikTok community that shares and recommends books to viewers has developed a bad reputation – and for a good reason. Many people use Booktok to share inappropriate books with terrible writing, usually under the dark romance category.
Not all Booktok books are bad, like the ones that have actual plots and character developments in them. But many others are extremely unsuitable for a lot of TikTok users. An example would be “Haunting Adeline” by H.D. Carlton, which centers around a girl and her psychotic lover who abuses and sexually assaults her. This is already off to a bad start, and Haunting Adeline is tame by comparison to the even more intense books shared on Booktok. Books like “Her Soul to Take”, “Ominous”, “Taken by Lies”, and so many more cross even further beyond the boundary of what is appropriate.
Not to judge people’s taste in books, but do Booktokers really need to go online and share explicit content with everyone? Firstly, there are kids on social media, and they do not need to hear about these books; frankly, none of us do. Secondly, Booktokers tend to forget that many people have actually been through these experiences in real life. Abuse, SA, pedophilia, and countless other horrible situations encountered in this dark literature are all real life situations that people go through, and have gone through. Not only is it disgusting that people romanticize these issues, but it is also unfair for the actual victims. Having trauma or PTSD from domestic abuse and then seeing a book on social media that fantasizes abuse and being praised would feel inconsiderate and offensive. It is not reasonable for these victims to have to see people praising these heinous acts as romantic, because clearly they have not experienced it. Abuse is not romantic – and CHS freshman Kailey Salcido agrees.
“I think Booktok is very odd,” Salcido said. “I think most Booktokers don’t understand the concept of real life situations.”
These types of books paint an unrealistic picture for viewers. Oftentimes, the victims in these books think that these relationships are idealistic, which might be the reason many enjoy reading about these struggles. And unfortunately, you want to be active in your own storyline…until it’s a 4’11” 60 year old man who looks like an Oompa Loompa. But in reality, Stockholm Syndrome exists, which occurs when an individual has a psychological response to being held captive. Usually, the victim will sympathize with or have a positive emotional reaction to their kidnapper. Regardless, that does not justify authors and readers to romanticize literal crimes.
But what actually goes on in these books? More often than not, the main female character meets a psychopath murdering male main character. He kidnaps her, abuses her, will not let her go, and…they fall in love. The end. The warnings of some books alone have audiences wanting to dig a hole, crawl inside of it, and die. Those warnings were worse than the side effects you see on medical ads – yes, a heart attack is probably better than reading that junk. In one example, trigger warnings for “Credence” by Penelope Douglas included: SA, domestic abuse, pedophilia, and child neglect, among others. If Douglas was intending to try and include as many crimes as possible in that book, she definitely succeeded.
Readers of these books are also part of the problem. By encouraging Booktok to keep sharing plotless and dark romance, people contribute to undermining the real stories that plague society.
Some people say that victims use dark romance books as a coping method. But In reality, they are simply an unhealthy way to gaslight yourself into thinking the things you have been through are admirable.
Booktok regulation needs to take place. TikTok administrators should be able to moderate videos in which inappropriate books are shown. For far too long, Booktok has been taking over the TikTok platform – it is time we change that.