BookTok BikeTok Controversy

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About

BookTok BikeTok Controversy refers to a TikTok trend where the "BookTok" and the BikeTok subcultures began to make videos about each other as far back as September 2023. In November 2023, the trend became embroiled in controversy after thousands of BookTokers flooded the comments of a 16-year-old bike enthusiast, with many of them giving him reading suggestions that were inappropriate for his age. The BookTok-BikeTok crossover then came to be discussed on X, with many people admonishing BookTokers for only reading smut, and for preying on unknowing minors.

Origin

The earliest known BookTok-BikeTok crossover video was posted on September 3rd, 2023, with TikToker^[1] @mimosasandmetaphors gathering over 50,000 views and 11,000 likes on a post showing a masked biker reading trendy BookTok novels (seen below, left). On September 13th, TikToker^[2] @tintedblue_ posted a "thirst-trap" pandering to BookTok, gathering over 79,000 plays and 14,000 likes in three months (seen below, right).

@mimosasandmetaphors When #booktok meets #biketok 🔥😮‍💨 #mimosasandmetaphors #spicybooks #booktok #BookTok #booktokfyp #bikelife #streetbike #motorcycles @Sequoia 📸 @Noswad😈 ♬ You Put A Spell On Me – Austin Giorgio

@tintedblue_ Wait for the drip😂 Send this message to your special one … Or is this message for you … #bikerboy #booktok #biketok #fy #yamahar6 #you #me #rider #bikerboyfriend #r1 #mt07 ♬ hotel room – keegvs

Spread

On October 22nd, TikToker^[3] @supernovabru posted a meme about the BookTok-BikeTok love affair using a clip from Zootopia, gathering over 120,000 plays and 20,000 likes in two months (seen below, left). On October 29th, TikToker^[4] @corereading posted a clip of a bike outside a Barnes & Noble store, saying "This is a dangerous combination." The post gathered over 500,000 plays and 90,000 likes in a month (seen below, right).

@supernovabru When worlds collide. #bikertok #booktok #biketok #spocybooktok #zootopia #frenzy #howl #shewolf #fyp #fypシ ♬ original sound – 🩶Nova🖤

@corereading #biketok #booktok ♬ original sound – Corrie O

BookTok Harrasses A 16-Year-Old Biker

Videos about BookTok and BikeTok escalated in November, with a notable instance being 16-year-old TikToker and biking enthusiast @jesze.bee being inundated by BookTok women, who began recommending smut to him after he showed off his collection of Young Adult novels on November 9th, gathering over 800,000 viewed and 90,000 likes (seen below, left).^[5]

On November 22nd, TikToker^[6] @grapiedeltaco posted a video recounting everything that led up to a 16-year-old boy being recommended erotic novels, admonishing "thousands" of "grown-ass" women for interacting with a minor in inappropriate ways. The video gathered over 300,000 plays and 70,000 likes in two weeks (seen below, right).

@jesze.bee Replying to @charz What is this "booktok"? #fyp #motorcycle #biketok #bikelife #biker #booktok #books ♬ original sound – xylo

@grapiedeltaco I hope his actual parents find out and take this seriously bc the “teasing” being done is innappropriate to say the least #Booktok ♬ original sound – Grapie

On November 26th, 2023, X^[7] user @lordesbbqribs made a post about BookTokers descending upon a minor, gathering over 4,000 likes in two weeks (seen below, left). On December 8th, 2023, X^[8] user @grovymango posted a series of screenshots with the caption, "Booktok is so embarrassing does nobody there know how to be normal." The post gathered over 111,000 likes in a day (seen below, right).