Explaining the Viral DL TikTok Trend: Is It Harmful?

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Trend expert Jemaree Jay explains what this TikTok trend is & what makes it controversial

Co-authored by Jemaree Jay and Annabelle Reyes

Last Updated: November 25, 2025 Fact Checked

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• What is the DL TikTok trend?
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• Why It’s Problematic
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• “DL” Meaning
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• Final Thoughts

|Show more |Show less

If you’ve been scrolling on TikTok lately, you might have come across videos of people saying that they’re “exposing their DL.” But what exactly does this mean? What’s a DL, and why are they being called out? If you’re looking for the answers to these questions, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll explain what this new TikTok trend is, why it’s problematic, and what the term “DL” means with help from trend expert Jemaree Jay. Read on for everything you need to know.

DL TikTok Trend Overview

Trend expert Jemaree Jay says the DL TikTok trend involves gay men or other queer people exposing their “DL” (or closeted) partners. People who participate in the trend often share a photo or name to “out” the DL man, often with captions like, “Exposing my DL because what’s he gonna do about it?”

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Section 1 of 4:

What is the DL TikTok trend?

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1. 
   The DL TikTok trend is all about exposing closeted gay men. The acronym DL stands for “down low,” a slang term that originated in the Black community for gay or bisexual men who aren’t “out.” Jay explains that “it’s been a trend for gay guys to expose men who are DL that they have relationships with on TikTok by posting videos of them together.” The videos might share the man’s name or other identifying information, along with captions like, “Exposing my DL because what’s he gonna do about it?” Or “Exposing my DL since he thinks he’s safe.”

   • Users seem to be posting these videos because they’re fed up with being kept a secret, or because their partner has cheated on them or started publicly dating a woman to cover up the fact that they’re gay.
   • Where did the trend come from? According to Jay, a Mexican TikTok creator “made a video about all the Mexican dads and uncles who are secretly gay or ‘DL’ (down low gay, but trying to hide it from everyone) and would link up with guys without anyone knowing, even if they had wives and children.” He says that this “caused a lot of convo in the Mexican community.”
   • While these frustrations are understandable, dealing with them through the DL TikTok trend is pretty problematic. We’ll go over why in more depth below.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Jemaree Jay is a trend expert and content creator. He specializes in content that breaks down Gen Z identity, internet culture, race-based archetypes, and friend group dynamics.
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Section 2 of 4:

Why is the DL TikTok trend problematic?

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1. 
   The trend publicly outs people against their will, which is wrong. It can definitely be frustrating to date or hook up with someone who won’t acknowledge who they truly are publicly, but this is their decision to make. Outing someone before they’re ready is never okay to do, and it can even have dangerous consequences for some people. Jay also adds that “some people fear [the DL trend] adds to the stigma of being gay and makes more people not want to come out.”

   • Remember, everyone’s circumstances are different. Some people might be staying in the closet because they know their families won’t be accepting, and they aren’t ready to take that step yet.
   • Others might not come out because they know it might affect their job or their housing, and they don’t have the means to get out of these situations.
   • Beyond all this, it’s just an unkind thing to do. The queer community in general already faces increased chances of depression and anxiety, and an unexpected outing can understandably take a toll on someone’s mental health.
   • Jay notes that the DL trend is really controversial, and some people are divided on whether it’s problematic or not. He says, “Some groups of people think DL men who cheat on their girlfriends with other men should be exposed.”
   • While the trend has been criticized heavily, Jay also explains that some people might even find it humorous due to the drama it has caused.
   • Long story short? Don’t participate in this TikTok trend. It’s understandable to be frustrated with a closeted partner, hookup, or friend-with-benefits, but it’s not okay to out them.

Section 3 of 4:

What does the term “DL” mean?

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1. 
   The term “DL” on TikTok stands for “down low.” DL is a slang term that originated in the Black community to refer to men who present as straight to the outside world, but sleep with other men secretly. Though the term started out being used exclusively to refer to Black gay or bisexual men, it’s now used to refer to closeted queer people of any race, ethnicity, or gender.
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Section 4 of 4:

Final Thoughts

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1. The DL TikTok trend involves publicly outing gay or bisexual men, which makes it pretty problematic and controversial. As frustrating and sad as it may be to see someone hide who they truly are, whether or not to come out is ultimately their decision, and it’s never okay to out someone against their will. If a DL guy wants to date or hook up with you, either accept that they aren’t ready to come out yet, or let them know that you’re not interested.

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