Heard about TikTok Dabloons?

 

As you wander through the woods, a cat approaches you, warning that it's unsafe. It invites you to its kitschy cabin, offering warm stew, a thick coat, and a sword for protection. You pay the cat four "dabloons" and venture back outside.

This isn't a new Elder Scrolls game; it's the latest TikTok trend. The viral craze began with a cat meme posted on Instagram in April 2021, showing a cat with an outstretched paw and the caption "4 dabloons." By October, it evolved into a four-panel meme on TikTok. On November 19th, TikTok user @eblxxdyblxxd posted a variant, sparking the trend.

Initially a joke, users turned it into a roleplay community. Cats became merchants, helping travelers on a perilous journey. Users faced fictional dangers, with wares like weapons and guard dogs available for purchase. Dabloonionaires rewarded quests, and there were lotteries and a dabloon IRS. Entire accounts roleplayed as shops, mafia headquarters, and government watchdogs.

Driven by TikTok users, the algorithm delivers randomized events, dominating users' feeds. Participants roleplay in comment sections, paying fictitious currency for food, shelter, and protection. A virtual economy emerged, tracked by users in spreadsheets and notebooks.

In a span of three days, the trend simulated a financial crisis, with "breaking news" bulletins, feline correspondents reporting on crashing dabloon values, and anti-dabloon capitalist rebellions forming. The trend unintentionally mirrors real-world events like the financial crisis and cryptocurrency market crashes, adding a layer of innocence.

While roleplaying on social media is not new, TikTok's video-first platform uniquely facilitated this trend. The algorithm controls users' experiences, offering a cultural phenomenon not easily replicated on other platforms. Despite TikTok trends' short lifespan, this resurgence of social media roleplay suggests a potential shift in how users engage with platforms.