"Aura Points" Is The Viral New Slang Among Gen Z'ers — Here's What It Is And What It Means (2024)

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Even as a Gen Z'er (albeit an older one), I still find myself confused by all the new slang that pops up — and most recently, it's "aura points." "Aura" has existed for a long time and is defined, in simple and modern terms, as someone's vibes and the energy a person or place exudes. Although younger folks definitely didn't invent the word, the aura "point system" has become a way for Gen Z'ers and Gen Alpha to describe when something is cringe and embarrassing or cool and vibey. If you're a parent or teacher or work with younger people, then you just might have heard about aura points from one of them. And if you're just as confused as I was, TikToker Philip Lindsay (@mr_lindsay_sped), a 30-year-old teacher from Arizona, made a video explaining what exactly aura points are and how you can "earn" and "lose" them. In the video, which has nearly 800k views, Philip starts off by saying, "The meaning of [aura] is actually what it means in the trend. But there is an additional aspect to it that's important to understand." "So somebody's aura is their essence, right? It's the energy they put off. That's a word we all know," Philip says. "But with the way that the kids are using it, they're specifically talking about how cool somebody is. What is the cool energy that they put off, and what are the things that you could do or not do that's either going to 'add' or 'take away' from your aura?" And that's where the (imaginary) "point system" comes in. According to Philip, gaining and having positive aura points is considered a good thing because, essentially, it means you did something people would generally deem as cool. Say, for example, that you send something funny in a group chat, and everybody responds to it. Because your humor and energy are well-received, it results in gaining positive aura. On the flip side, you can also "lose" aura points whenever you do something people consider embarrassing, weird, or cringey. As part of Philip's example in the TikTok: "You see somebody waving at you, and you wave back, only to discover that it's the person behind you that they're waving at. Negative aura points." All in all, Philip explains that someone's overall aura is the sum of their aura points — practically a different way to determine whether or not someone is cool or has "good" vibes. Of course, though it's said you can "gain" and "lose" aura points, the "scale" is often imagined and used hyperbolically among Gen Z'ers and Gen Alpha. For example, in one TikTok, a person tries to open a door by pushing instead of pulling. The result is "negative 1000 aura points." Meanwhile, other people on social media will reveal embarrassing or cringeworthy memories or facts about themselves and then ask how many aura points they lost. On X (formerly Twitter), a user wrote, "how many aura points did i lose when i found out there was another girl and i still stayed." Another X user stated, "you lose a hefty amount of aura points every time you add a note on an instagram post." Even big brands and companies, like Porsche, have caught on to the trend, posting on X: "Pronouncing Porsche the correct way +1000 aura points." In Philip's explainer video, some comments expressed their excitement about finally having some clarification on what "aura points" mean, with one TikTok user saying, "My Aura points are dropping once I use this with my kids." Another user pointed out that aura points are just "cool points with a new name." Overall, someone's aura is the new way younger folks are playfully judging a person's — or their own! — vibes in a specific moment, and I honestly fear I'm going to start using the phrase ironically and then somehow start saying it unironically. (Unfortunately, that's what happened to me with the word 'fam.') If you're a parent, teacher, or work with Gen Z'ers, have you ever heard about aura points? What do you think about this new trend? If you want to gain 500 aura points, comment below! Follow Philip on TikTok for more content. FAQs

Posted on Jul 26, 2024

My newest and biggest fear is having negative aura points...

by Dannica RamirezBuzzFeed Staff

Even as a Gen Z'er (albeit an older one), I still find myself confused by all the new slang that pops up — and most recently, it's "aura points."

"Aura" has existed for a long time and is defined, in simple and modern terms, as someone's vibes and the energy a person or place exudes. Although younger folks definitely didn't invent the word, the aura "point system" has become a way for Gen Z'ers and Gen Alpha to describe when something is cringe and embarrassing or cool and vibey.

i’m losing aura points at a record setting rate
— miss mustard (@messy_mustard) July 19, 2024

X: @messy_mustarqd / Via Twitter: @messy_mustard

The first time I heard the term was when I was crossing the street with my Gen A cousin. He said the cars stopped because of how many "aura points" he had.

If you're a parent or teacher or work with younger people, then you just might have heard about aura points from one of them. And if you're just as confused as I was, TikToker Philip Lindsay (@mr_lindsay_sped), a 30-year-old teacher from Arizona, made a video explaining what exactly aura points are and how you can "earn" and "lose" them.

@mr_lindsay_sped
Replying to @tanyak680 It may be summer, but Mr. Lindsay is still here to define the #trending words your’re #teenager is using. Are they giving you positive or negative #aurapoints yet? 😂 Side Note: Most of the things that gain or lose you points are funny, little, inconsequential things. #aura #genalpha #slang #middleschoolslang #teachersoftiktok #teacherfyp #fyp
♬ original sound - Mr. Lindsay

TikTok: @mr_lindsay_sped / Via tiktok.com

In the video, which has nearly 800k views, Philip starts off by saying, "The meaning of [aura] is actually what it means in the trend. But there is an additional aspect to it that's important to understand."

"Aura Points" Is The Viral New Slang Among Gen Z'ers — Here's What It Is And What It Means (2)

"So somebody's aura is their essence, right? It's the energy they put off. That's a word we all know," Philip says. "But with the way that the kids are using it, they're specifically talking about how cool somebody is. What is the cool energy that they put off, and what are the things that you could do or not do that's either going to 'add' or 'take away' from your aura?" And that's where the (imaginary) "point system" comes in.

"Aura Points" Is The Viral New Slang Among Gen Z'ers — Here's What It Is And What It Means (3)

According to Philip, gaining and having positive aura points is considered a good thing because, essentially, it means you did something people would generally deem as cool. Say, for example, that you send something funny in a group chat, and everybody responds to it. Because your humor and energy are well-received, it results in gaining positive aura.

"Aura Points" Is The Viral New Slang Among Gen Z'ers — Here's What It Is And What It Means (4)

On the flip side, you can also "lose" aura points whenever you do something people consider embarrassing, weird, or cringey. As part of Philip's example in the TikTok: "You see somebody waving at you, and you wave back, only to discover that it's the person behind you that they're waving at. Negative aura points."

"Aura Points" Is The Viral New Slang Among Gen Z'ers — Here's What It Is And What It Means (5)

All in all, Philip explains that someone's overall aura is the sum of their aura points — practically a different way to determine whether or not someone is cool or has "good" vibes. Of course, though it's said you can "gain" and "lose" aura points, the "scale" is often imagined and used hyperbolically among Gen Z'ers and Gen Alpha.

"Aura Points" Is The Viral New Slang Among Gen Z'ers — Here's What It Is And What It Means (6)

For example, in one TikTok, a person tries to open a door by pushing instead of pulling. The result is "negative 1000 aura points."

"Aura Points" Is The Viral New Slang Among Gen Z'ers — Here's What It Is And What It Means (7)

Meanwhile, other people on social media will reveal embarrassing or cringeworthy memories or facts about themselves and then ask how many aura points they lost. On X (formerly Twitter), a user wrote, "how many aura points did i lose when i found out there was another girl and i still stayed."

how many aura points did i lose when i found out there was another girl and i still stayed
— ✮ (@ciggs4breakfast) July 18, 2024

X: @ciggs4breakfast / Via Twitter: @ciggs4breakfast

Another X user stated, "you lose a hefty amount of aura points every time you add a note on an instagram post."

you lose a hefty amount of aura points every time you add a note on an instagram post.
— p (@kyayaarpriii) July 21, 2024

X: @kyayaarpriii / Via Twitter: @kyayaarpriii

(TBH, they're not wrong.)

Even big brands and companies, like Porsche, have caught on to the trend, posting on X: "Pronouncing Porsche the correct way +1000 aura points."

Pronouncing Porsche the correct way +1000 aura points
— Porsche (@Porsche) June 21, 2024

X: @Porsche / Via Twitter: @Porsche

In Philip's explainer video, some comments expressed their excitement about finally having some clarification on what "aura points" mean, with one TikTok user saying, "My Aura points are dropping once I use this with my kids."

"Aura Points" Is The Viral New Slang Among Gen Z'ers — Here's What It Is And What It Means (8)

Another user pointed out that aura points are just "cool points with a new name."

"Aura Points" Is The Viral New Slang Among Gen Z'ers — Here's What It Is And What It Means (9)

Overall, someone's aura is the new way younger folks are playfully judging a person's — or their own! — vibes in a specific moment, and I honestly fear I'm going to start using the phrase ironically and then somehow start saying it unironically. (Unfortunately, that's what happened to me with the word 'fam.')

i’ve lost so many aura points that it’s honestly unrecoverable rn
— anj ♡´･ᴗ･`♡ (@pbanjelly26) July 20, 2024

X: @pbanjelly26 / Via Twitter: @pbanjelly26

If you're a parent, teacher, or work with Gen Z'ers, have you ever heard about aura points? What do you think about this new trend? If you want to gain 500 aura points, comment below!

Follow Philip on TikTok for more content.

FAQs

"Aura Points" Is The Viral New Slang Among Gen Z'ers — Here's What It Is And What It Means? ›

Although younger folks definitely didn't invent the word, the aura "point system" has become a way for Gen Z'ers and Gen Alpha

Gen Alpha

Named after alpha, the first letter in the Greek alphabet, Generation Alpha is the first to be born entirely in the 21st century and the third millennium. Most members of Generation Alpha are the children of Millennials.

https://en.wikipedia.org

Generation Alpha - Wikipedia

to describe when something is cringe and embarrassing or cool and vibey. The first time I heard the term was when I was crossing the street with my Gen A cousin.

Why is everyone saying aura now? ›

People are saying 'Aura' now because it refers to the electromagnetic field or energy that a person emits. It can indicate their emotional state and can be influenced by their daily habits and environment. A strong positive aura can attract positive things and opportunities. Aura is your cool factor.

Learn More Now ›

What does aura mean in TikTok slang? ›

What is the aura trend on TikTok? Basically, it's your cool factor. People are using a made up point system to analyze how cool they are. For example, if you go in for a handshake, when someone fist bumps you, you would lose like 600 points. But if you're walking.

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Is aura a good thing? ›

That said, auras aren't inherently good or bad. In fact, they are merely a reflection of who you are as a person and where you're at in life — even if you haven't come to terms with it yet.

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What do kids say in 2024? ›

They may say things like, “I'm amped about my drip today,” or, “He's got rizz. Giving off major BDE.” Maybe they've said something like, “No cap, this sandwich is bussin',” or, “Spill the tea, sis!”

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What does Gen Z say instead of cringe? ›

Slang term	Definition	Variation(s)
Big yikes	Used to describe something embarrassing or cringey, particularly in response to an offensive comment.
Blud	Another word for a "friend" or "Bro". It is often used to describe people or animals that are out of place.
Boujee (US: /ˈbuːʒi/)	High-class/materialistic.	Bougie

11 more rows

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What is a rizz in Gen Z slang? ›

220,880. Rizz. Rizz actually comes from the word charisma, where in southern Baltimore they've started to shorten it, to “rizzma” (the noun replacing charisma) and to “rizz” (the action of showing charisma), through Twitch live streamer Kai Cenat's editor, a resident of south Baltimore. 201,000. Coquette.

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What are Aurora points slang? ›

What is the meaning of Aurora points? Aurora points are gained or lost for funny, little, inconsequential things. Aurora points are a made up point system used to analyze how cool a person is. They can be gained or lost based on certain actions or events.

Tell Me More ›

What do people mean when they say aura? ›

Word forms: auras

countable noun. An aura is a quality or feeling that seems to surround a person or place or to come from them. She had an aura of authority. Synonyms: air, feeling, feel, quality More Synonyms of aura.

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What do aura points mean on TikTok? ›

Here's the information about aura points: The phrase “aura points” has bubbled up through all ends of the internet. Within the span of a few short weeks, the term has become commonplace in videos on TikTok and in comment sections. In short, aura points are a lighthearted way to measure how cool someone is.

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