Inside ‘Scientology speedruns,’ the viral trend prompting the church to bolster security

In Los Angeles, a social media trend called “Scientology speedrunning” has emerged, where participants, often in costumes, rush through Church of Scientology properties to gather information quickly. This trend, popularized on TikTok, has led to security concerns and incidents investigated by the police as potential hate crimes. The church has responded by removing external door handles from its Hollywood Boulevard locations. While some view these actions as harmless fun, the Church of Scientology sees them as trespassing and harassment. The trend is largely driven by young people, reflecting a broader cultural movement of creating seemingly meaningless content for entertainment. QUESTION: How might the rise of social media trends like “Scientology speedrunning” influence the way young people perceive and interact with established institutions?