Choppelganger
A new TikTok slang word that mashes up "chopped" (ugly) and "doppelganger" to mean a lookalike who looks noticeably worse; most teens joke about themselves with it, but it can also be used as a looks-based put-down.
Should I worry?
Mostly this is self-deprecating humour, not a threat. The only thing worth noticing is tone: if the word is aimed at your teen by classmates, or your teen starts putting themselves down about their face, it may be shading into teasing about looks. Signs to look for are a drop in mood after being online, avoiding photos, or comments about their appearance that sound new. If you see that, listen first, and help your teen mute, block or report the accounts involved.
How to join in
It started when someone misread a "doppelganger" caption online and joked they had invented a word. Teens now use it to say a person looks like them but a bit worse, and most turn it on themselves. It's a quick, silly bit of wordplay, and kids enjoy being in on the joke. A easy way in is to ask what the funniest new word they've heard lately is, and let them explain this one to you.
Try saying
“I heard a new word going around, choppelganger. Have you seen it? It seems like people mostly joke about themselves with it, but I figure it could sting if someone aimed it at you. If anyone ever uses it that way, I'd want to know, and you wouldn't be in trouble.”
Sources
From Mistlift, mistlift.app. Plain talk about what kids are into online.