Decode the Hyperpigmentation Meme trending on Tiktok

If you’re even mildly online, you’ve probably seen it. That infamous line—“Is that hyperpigmentation?”—delivered with a mic drop. TikTok is abuzz with the "hyperpigmentation" meme born from a wholesome (and unintentionally hilarious) family moment back in 2019.

(Image via Pinterest/ suzettelasweet)

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Origins of the Hyperpigmentation meme

Let's go back in time to May 1, 2019. Sonia Tiebi was any mother who loved documenting the sweet chaos of family life: she posted a video of her daughter Sierra showing off her artistic skills.

Sierra, clearly admiring her own masterwork, held up a drawing of her mom.

Well, Sonia's reaction was where the internet magic began to show itself. On seeing a large dot on the cheek of her drawn doppelgänger, Sonia hit us with the now-legendary question: "Is that hyperpigmentation?"

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Details of the original video

Sierra clings to her drawing as if it were the Mona Lisa when her mom reacts to the liberty taken in painting. Sierra is frantic with her flustered response to her mother's playful shots.

Sonia, however, steals all the limelight of laughter with her response that is not just "for real" with shock but hilarious and affectionate, too.

People couldn’t get enough of the banter, and the views came rolling.

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Viral spread of the video

From its humble beginnings on May 1, 2019, this video made its way across platforms like TikTok and other social media platforms.

Thanks to ViralHog—a YouTube channel dedicated to sharing viral moments—the video's reach extended to millions more. Everywhere it went, people couldn't help but laugh at the relatable hilarity.

Who hasn't had a moment where their kid's creativity gave them pause?

For the uninformed, hyperpigmentation is that darker patch on the skin due to a few reasons: sunlight and certain skin issues.

But in the context of this meme? It's a humorously efficient symbol for how every parent feels upon finding out the sweet but brutally honest responses from their little ones.

As memes go, this one evolved. It became a template for countless internet users who wanted to flex their creativity by putting their personal stamp on that iconic exchange.

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Long-run popularity

It's now the Adele of internet trends—aging like fine wine. After its initial boom in 2019, it saw another surge in March 2020 and yet another in late 2023.

True to form, users of TikTok have kept the trend alive with endless creativity. It is a direct reference or using it as a springboard to jump off to create their own jokes-the content just keeps coming.

Videos featuring the meme rack up millions.

Current Popularity: Fast-forward to January 2025, and guess what? The "hyperpigmentation" meme remains alive.

It's hanging out with some of the most viral memes, such as "My Shayla" and "Goodbye to my Chinese spy." There are thousands of TikTok videos mentioning this meme that collect millions of likes.

It is just more about universal experiences: kids saying stuff in the plainest honesty imaginable, parents almost crumpling out from laughter attempts, and a beautifully messy life of families.