I recently started hanging out with more people my age, and one thing I’ve been hearing non-stop is the word “aura.” Talks about aura aren't anything new, especially if you’re into wellness. But apparently, Gen Z has come up with a system to measure one's aura using “aura points.”
If you’re constantly on Tiktok, chances are you’ve already come across a few people talking about how many aura points they’ve “lost” or “gained” out of a certain situation. But if you're still scratching your head trying to figure out what they really mean or how you’re faring in this new system, this little explainer will help you out.
What Are Aura Points?
Okay, stay with me. What exactly are aura points? In a nutshell, they're a metric used to gauge someone's “vibe” or charisma (or "rizz" as they say). Every action you take can either boost or diminish your aura points.
You might see TikTok videos where users tally up their aura points based on their daily experiences. For instance, anything cringe-worthy like tripping out of nowhere or telling a corny joke will give you “negative aura,” while something positive like getting over your ex or doing something nice for someone will give you “positive aura.”
Obviously, you'd want to aim for a positive aura, and according to Tiktok, the best way to do that is to work on bettering yourself, also known as "aura maxing" or maximizing your aura.
How Do You Aura Max?
Aura maxing or, in Gen Z slang, auramaxxing, is the practice of continually improving oneself to enhance one's aura and attract positive outcomes like wealth and healthy relationships. This trend has gained much popularity, and while it applies to both men and women, it's become particularly widespread among young men striving to meet social media standards in hopes that they'll attract a potential partner.
Tiktok creators basically promote auramaxxing as a way to improve one's self-awareness and overall appeal, including practices like "heightmaxxing" (attempting to grow taller by getting more sleep) and "looksmaxxing" (the practice of following various body care routines to enhance one's physical appearance). Beauty content creator Ryan Bailey Potter even shared a makeup tutorial that can help "improve your aura."
Ultimately, there’s really no official scoring system, and the points themselves are often just made-up numbers for fun. But some feel that this trend has also become quite toxic, especially when some of these "auramaxxing" techniques, particularly those targeted towards teenage boys, become quite gendered and even borderline sexist.
The Concern About Aura Points
While some content creators actually provide helpful tips like how to prepare for conversations if you're an introvert and morning workout advice to improve your physique and overall health, Derek Beres, author and co-host of the Conspirituality podcast, highlights that auramaxxing content online is filled with misogyny and can lead to guilt and shame in teenage boys.
Content creators such as Aaron (aka @hypebeastaaronn), a 25-year-old "dating coach" on TikTok, advise women to improve their aura by refraining from posting revealing photos online. For men, he emphasizes the importance of financial responsibility, physical fitness, and maintaining a social life independent of romantic pursuits. Some have criticized his advice as toxic masculinity, but Aaron believes he is providing young men with essential dating tips he wishes he had received, noting that men often get left behind when they prioritize women.
Because of this, there's a rising concern with teen boys feeling pressured to succeed in dating through competitive, antisocial behavior, resulting in isolation and online echo chambers of men discussing what women want without actually interacting with women.
Our main takeaway from this trend? There's no need to put a number on your self-worth. If you feel like you've had a moment that lowers your confidence, you might consider that a loss of aura points. But it's no big deal, just find a way to earn it back! 'Tis the way of life.
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