“OD” On TikTok: It Means What You Think — And More

Sadly, the term “OD” has become familiar to all of us, whether it’s from seeing TV shows and news stories about the drug overdoses that have become so common in recent decades — or from the tragic consequences so many people have witnessed first-hand among family members and friends.

Some TikTok users may “play characters” on the social media platform, but they all have real lives, too. As you would expect, some have had their lives touched by drug abuse and overdoses in one way or another. And it’s not unusual to hear them tell their stories in TikTok videos.

It’s also not unusual to see TikTok content explaining the precautions people can take to prevent OD’ing and the proper use of Narcan in the event of an overdose, along with other educational videos on the topic.

“OD” is seen more commonly in other types of TikTok posts, though, and it doesn’t literally refer to drug overdoses.

What “OD” May Mean on TikTok

TikTok influencers and content creators build their followings largely on the compelling and sometimes outrageous videos they produce. Some creators make a point of going to the extreme in their pursuit of viewers and popularity.

That’s what many users are referring to when they use the term “OD” in their posts or comments. On the app, “OD” is most often used to refer to posts that go “over the top” — but it can have either positive or negative connotations.

For example, people might refer to the moves in a trending dance video as “OD,” meaning the moves are above and beyond those normally seen in TikTok dances. They might also use the term to describe powerful or emotionally-moving TikTok content that provokes unexpectedly intense viewer reactions.

On the other hand, creators who overuse effects, filters, and other editing techniques may be accused of having “OD’d” during production. Those who appear to get overly dramatic or pompous in their videos are said to be “ODing.” In short, the term is often used as shorthand to describe a person or post that has gone way too far.

The use of “OD” in these ways can be callous, appropriating an acronym that aggravates raw feelings in many TikTok users. If we’re being honest, though, people’s behavior on social apps is often outrageous and over the top, so it’s not surprising that a term like “OD” has been repurposed on TikTok without regard to the hurt it can cause others.