Advances in technology and media, particularly TikTok, have had a significant impact on the younger generation. BookTok, a community that emerged from TikTok, is a platform where users can promote, share, and discuss book recommendations, using “spice level” or chili emojis to indicate the rating of explicit content. While recommendations often focus on erotica and dark romance fiction, concerns arise when such content glamorizes and normalizes rape culture, especially for young adults (YA). The normalization of toxic relationships can potentially influence YA perceptions of consent and boundaries. This study explores how YA perceive rape culture and consent in erotica and dark romance literature and how this content affects their expectations of boundaries in YA relationships. Specifically, this study addresses this topic by asking the following research questions: (1) What role does erotica and dark romance fiction play in shaping YA attitudes and expectations about relationships, sexuality, and intimacy? (2) How do YA perceive relationship boundaries in erotica and dark romance books recommended by BookTok? (3) How do YA think about the portrayal of consent and relationships in erotica and dark romance books recommended by BookTok? This study employed Ronald L. Akers’ social learning theory and Simon and Gagnon’s sexual script theory as a framework to conduct a thematic content analysis of 100 public BookTok posts and 1,570 comments, using four prominent hashtags in the BookTok community to identify key themes and patterns in YA meaning making of sexual socialization. Findings reveal that (a) BookTok fosters an environment where YA internalize the depicted behaviors; (b) YA are becoming desensitized to explicit material and more accepting of problematic behavior; and (c) many YA have noticed a shift in their views on consent and boundaries after engaging with the BookTok community. These results have important implications for educators, policymakers, and parents, highlighting the need for media literacy programs that help YA critically engage with content, distinguish fiction from reality, and develop healthy relationship expectations. Addressing these issues can foster collaborative dialogue that challenges harmful norms and promotes a safer, more informed environment for YA.
---
While determining the direction of causality between user comments and the literature is challenging, this research focused on capturing users’ current perceptions of rape culture and consent as expressed through their comments. (28)
---
The study operated under the assumption that most videos and comments analyzed would belong to the YA demographic, as approximately 68.8% of TikTok users are between the ages of 18 and 34. (29)
---
On BookTok, comments often discuss how the content provides escapism or excitement, while also warning that these narratives may foster unrealistic or harmful views on intimacy, consent, and boundaries. Although it is the lowest coded category, 65 of the selected comments reflect this theme, highlighting the significance of awareness about harmful observation and internalization, as well as how reinforcement on digital platforms may impact YA perceptions of consent and boundaries. Some comments express full disagreement with the content, pointing out its normalization of problematic behaviors. (60)
---
Many users on BookTok contribute to the romanticization of unhealthy or toxic behaviors in relationships; comments frequently highlight the appeal of power imbalances portrayed in erotica and dark romance fiction. Users often admire traits associated with rape culture, such as dominance, manipulation, coercion, jealousy, and possessiveness, signaling a potential normalization of these dynamics in romantic expectations. Data from user interactions reveal that the repeated portrayal of these unhealthy dynamics in BookTok content shapes YA users’ perceptions, leading to a skewed understanding of romance and a trivialization of consent. (63)
---
The findings reveal a complex dynamic: some YA express concern over problematic behaviors portrayed in these genres, while many are drawn to the romanticization of unhealthy dynamics, which often blurs the lines between fantasy and reality. (67)
Here's the abstract:
---
---
---
---
---