For those who are chronically online, you may have noticed kids talking about “aura farming.” Even if you're not constantly scrolling the internet, you still might have heard the term. And we know what you’re thinking—what is “aura farming,” exactly? Believe it or not, the popular term has gone from TikTok to school convos to even making its way into adult vocabulary.
At its core, aura farming refers to how people see someone's image along with how that person is pursuing said image. Originally used in gaming culture, the term is now being used to describe the allure of anything outside the gaming world. Think of your favorite TV character or celebrity: What is it about them that attracts you to their personality? That’s where aura farming comes in, but we'll explain more in a few.
Children and teens seem to change their vocabulary often thanks to internet culture—so much so that clinical psychologist Dr. Michael Wetter has studied the way that Gen Z and Gen Alpha interact on a daily basis. In fact, he's served as the consulting psychologist for HYBE Entertainment and appeared in Netflix's Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE, leading group therapy sessions with the girls competing on the show. So he has quite the hands-on experience with the way adolescents use the internet and how social media affects them.
“Because I see firsthand how these cultural trends shape identity, confidence and social dynamics, they provide an interesting window into how young people today think about status, belonging and self-presentation,” Dr. Wetter tells Parade.
Keep reading to find out what "aura farming" means, where it came from and if parents should be concerned if their kids frequently use this term.
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What Is 'Aura Farming'?
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Essentially, aura farming refers to the image of chasing social media clout and admiration through cool or charismatic behavior—essentially cultivating levels of personal energy. As mentioned above, the term was originally used in gaming culture and is now expanding to describe things in the greater pop culture landscape.
To get you on track: the word “aura” has nothing to do with anything spiritual or chaotic. For Gen Alpha and Gen Z, the word “aura’ refers to something simply amazing. Think of something or someone being the “main character” that oozes confidence, but doesn’t try at all to get people’s attention (although it still works). That's pretty much a rundown of what aura means in today's slang. “The key idea is that the person appears confident, calm or socially skilled without trying too hard,” Dr. Wetter shares. “A student who casually solves a difficult problem in class and shrugs it off, or someone who delivers a witty response in conversation and then moves on without seeking attention, might be described by peers as ‘aura farming.’”
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In 2024, a video depicting an 11-year-old Indonesian boy named Rayyan Arkan Dikha went viral, per the Wall Street Journal on TikTok. It showed Dikha wearing sunglasses and performing a dance during a rowing competition at the Pacu Jalur festival, thus earning him the title of the “ultimate aura farmer.”
@raqeebahmed_56Aura farming boat kid viral video Indonesia #trending #aurafarmingkid
♬ original sound - ?????? ?????The “farming” part traces back to gaming culture, where “farming” means to repeatedly perform actions to rack up points—think of games like Minecraftor World of Warcraft. On the other hand, “aura” in this instance can take inspiration from the word “charisma,” which correlates to the “coolness” of the term’s meaning.
“Younger users began talking about people having a strong or weak ‘aura’, meaning the invisible social presence someone carries with them,” Dr. Wetter explains. “Over time, the language evolved into something almost like a playful scoring system.”Related: Huh? Here’s What Kids Actually Mean When They Say ‘SYBAU’
How Do You Use ‘Aura Farming’?
Based on many social media videos, the term is pretty flexible and often functions as a compliment and an observation. Some cases where you might come across aura farming is someone acts unbothered—while doing something cool or looking suave in some way—which could have a person say, “Do you see how unbothered they look? I swear they are aura farming right now.”
It is important to remember that aura farming only works when something looks natural.
“A person can gain aura by doing something socially impressive or confident, while embarrassing moments might be jokingly described as losing aura,” Dr. Wetter says.Related: The ‘Staples Baddie’ Goes Viral: How One Employee’s TikTok Is Reinvigorating the Massive Brand (Exclusive)
@h.chua_212
Replying to @mich one ?♂️ #bowling #dudeperfect #fyp #aura
♬ original sound - Harrison :) - Harrison :)Although Rayyan’s video served as the starting point, a January 2024 video by TikToker @h.chua_212 shows him calmly landing a bowling strike, with his friends reacting wildly. This follows the formula of doing something cool, staying unbothered and the chaos erupting around you.
2. Timothée Chalamet compilation videos
@havo.aebro was aura farming these two movies #dune #duneparttwo #timotheechalamet #duneedit #timotheechalametedit #fyp #ae #edit
♬ Originalton - HAVOActor Timothée Chalamet has managed to gain traction in Hollywood for his fashionable attire and magnetic acting. All of these combined solidify him as one of the greatest aura-farmers. There are many compilation and edit videos on TikTok of Chalamet giving “main character” moments, which have received hundreds of thousands of likes.
3. Sung Jinwoo from 'Solo Leveling'
@itskingchrisSung Jin Woo during that one scene… #anime #sololeveling #sungjinwoo
♬ original sound - KingChristianSung Jinwoo, the protagonist of the video game series Solo Leveling, has become an online favorite for his quiet, yet deadly-cool presence. And rightfully so—a lot of people online believe that Sung Jinwoo is a massive aura farmer as he has become one of the edgiest and most interesting characters in the series.
What Do Kids Mean When They Talk About 'Aura Farming'?
Whenever you come across a kid who uses the term “aura farming,” it means that they're describing the current state of their social worlds. To them, aura is the embodiment of exhibiting confidence, like collecting game points.
“While the language may sound humorous, it reflects something developmentally normal. Adolescents are constantly evaluating social signals and figuring out where they stand among peers,” Dr. Wetter states. “This type of slang simply gives them a playful way to talk about social reputation and confidence.”
The kids aren’t too brain-rotted though—they are able to identify what is “cool” or “cringe” just by dissecting a person’s motives. A football player who is able to perform under pressure in the midst of a rainstorm? Aura farming successfully completed. But, a kid who sets up their phone and attempts to do multiple backflips? That’s when aura farming feels forced and inauthentic.
Related: If You Use These 8 Unexpected Phrases, You Have Higher Self-Confidence Than Most, Psychologists Say
Parents, if you are growing worried about your kids using the term, don't be too concerned. Like any other trend, it’s good for the moment of embracing internet culture and today’s terminology, especially in the sense of forming a close-knit community. However, the term can become problematic for kids who feel pressured to live up to the norm of acting the same as their peers.
“Parents can help by encouraging teens to focus on genuine confidence rather than external approval,” Dr. Wetter shares. “Developing real skills, cultivating kindness and learning how to handle both success and awkward moments are far more important than gaining social points online.”
So, if your kid wholeheartedly stands by the "aura farming" concept, don’t be concerned—let them farm on!Up Next:
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Source:
Dr. Michael Wetter is a nationally recognized board-certified clinical psychologist. He's also served as the consulting psychologist for HYBE Entertainment and appeared in Netflix's Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE, leading group therapy sessions with the girls competing on the survival elimination show that would eventually give the world the girl group, KATSEYE.Hence then, the article about what do kids mean when they talk about aura farming exactly a psychologist weighs in was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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