Aura

Definition:

Refers to a person's overall positive or negative vibe, where 'aura points' can be gained or lost

Context:

The phrase "aura" gained popularity in 2023 and 2024, initially within soccer & basketball communities on social media platforms like X, where it was used to compliment players like Liverpool's Van Dijk for their impressive presence on the field (in reference to a New York Times article from October 2020 reading, "Van Dijk’s mistakes can be dismissed because, basically, he has an aura." ).

The term rapidly spread beyond the sports world, becoming a popular slang term among Gen-Z & Gen-Alpha in various social settings. People began using the phrase to describe someone's overall vibe or the energy they give off, with "positive aura" indicating a desirable or charismatic presence and "negative aura" suggesting the opposite - as well as a related meme template, "Weak Aura vs Strong Aura."

The concept of 'aura points' originated on TikTok, where users began sharing videos asking how certain situations, particularly those involving relationships and personal embarrassment, could affect their hypothetical 'aura points.' While many of these videos focus on interactions with exes or crushes, 'aura points' have extended beyond romantic relationships, and encompasses any situation that might impact one's self-esteem or social standing.

Examples:

"When I'm talking to somebody and my spit accidentally comes out (-1000 aura points)"
"When you trip in front of a girl in public (-294 aura)"
"I was explaining something, stuttered, and my little sister said 'negative aura points,'"

Fun Fact:

The earliest datable Northern Lights observation according to most scholars was by a royal astronomer under Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar II who described it as an unusual “red glow” in the sky at night in his report of the phenomenon on a tablet dated to 567 B.C.

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ZACH GEORGE † Software Engineer

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