- On TikTok, dupes refer to duplicates, which are less expensive alternatives to luxury brand products.
- The dupe trend mocks dupe videos. In the videos, TikTokers typically grab random items and loudly proclaim them as “doops” for higher-end brands.
- Dupe videos first gained popularity among beauty YouTubers in 2008. In 2022, TikTokers started posting dupe parody videos.
What does dupe mean on TikTok?
A dupe is a cheaper alternative to a more expensive product. On TikTok, “dupe” means “duplicate.” These are products that look and work similarly to a high-end brand’s item but are much less expensive. In a dupe video, a TikTok creator typically shows off the dupe, states which brand’s product it’s similar to, and tells their viewers whether they recommend it or not. Dupe videos are incredibly popular, with the hashtag #dupe having over 5 billion views! Most dupes are competitors to a higher-end brand’s product, not a direct knockoff. Dupe videos are a part of the de-influencing trend, which encourages social media users to spend wisely and save their money.
Almost anything can be a dupe, from skincare to cars. If a brand makes a well-known and expensive product, a TikToker has probably found a good dupe for it. Makeup, clothes, fragrances, headphones, and even food and drinks are all popular products you might see dupes of on your For You page. For instance, beauty TikTokers might recommend drugstore makeup products as dupes for the popular Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Hollywood Filter. Or, users might show off Target or Walmart leggings as dupes for Lululemon’s pricier bottoms.
What is the dupe trend on TikTok?
The dupe trend on TikTok parodies influences who promote dupes. In these funny videos, TikTok creators typically walk through a store and hold up random items while claiming they’re dupes for more popular brands. They typically say or shout “dupe” in an exaggerated way, like “doooop” or “dupé” to make it clear they’re mocking the popularity of dupe videos. For instance, a user might grab a pair of unbranded white socks and say “Gucci dupe,” or pick up a pack of markers and say “Dior eyeshadow dupe.” Other users show off dupes for more abstract things, like popular books as a dupe for going to therapy or coffee as a dupe for getting a full night’s sleep.
The Origins of Dupe and the Dupe Trend
Beauty influencers popularized dupes on YouTube in 2008. Long before dupe videos went viral on TikTok, influencers on YouTube made videos about makeup products that were great alternatives to expensive brands like Mac. The oldest known dupe video was posted back in 2008 by TheWorldsDresser, where she listed dupes for Mac products in her video called “Mac Eyeshadow Dupes.” Makeup dupe videos quickly gained popularity in 2008 and continue to be today! YouTubers like Tati, Jessica Braun, and Laura Lee regularly post their dupe recommendations.
The dupe trend on TikTok gained popularity in 2022. One of the first TikTok users to parody dupe culture was keylimeleah, who posted about silly luxury dupes she and her friend found at Target. A few weeks later, user taytay_jane posted a similar video while at a thrift store. Other users saw how popular the dupe content was and started making their own viral videos! While dupe parodies are made to be funny and only poke fun at knockoffs, some TikTok users see the videos as mocking people who can’t afford more expensive products.
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