Aura farming
Aura farming is a colloquialism denoting the act of cultivating an appearance of effortless charisma, i.e. "coolness", often through repetitive actions to that end. Popularized in 2024, the term soon became associated with a viral dance originated by Rayyan Arkan Dikha, a boy from Indonesia.[1][2] 6-7 and the Funk Carioca and Phonk musical genre have made this type of viral internet challenge more representative and global.[3]
Origins
The expression "aura farming" was popularized in 2024, largely in reference to anime characters and various celebrities. It generally describes someone who does something repetitive to look "cool" and build "aura" – a slang term synonymous with charisma or "rizz", although the latter has romantic connotations that are not shared by "aura".[1]
A dance attached to the phrase was popularized by a viral video of an 11-year-old Indonesian boy, Rayyan Arkan Dikha, performing a rhythmic dance on the bow of a traditional racing boat during the Pacu Jalur festival in Riau, Indonesia.[4][5] The Togak Luan (or Tukang Tari) is a child performer whose role is to hype the team and signal to spectators when the boat is leading.[6] The role requires significant balance, which is why children are often chosen over adults.[5]
In the video, Dikha, wearing a traditional Teluk Belanga outfit with a Malay Riau headcloth and sunglasses, performs a series of calm, repetitive dance moves to energize the rowers.[7] In interviews, Dikha stated that he created the dance spontaneously.[7][8]
The video was first posted on TikTok and went viral in mid-2025.[9][10] Social media users began remixing the clip with various songs under hashtags such as "aura farming kid on boat," amassing millions of views.[7] According to The New York Times, the trend made Dikha "hard to miss on social media" in mid-2025.[1]
As a result of the video's popularity, Dikha was appointed as a cultural and tourism ambassador for Riau province by the local governor.[11] He and his mother were invited to the capital, Jakarta, to meet with the country's Ministers of Culture and Tourism.[11] He was also awarded a government scholarship.[12]
Global imitations
The dance became a global meme, imitated by international sports teams and celebrities, which amplified its viral spread. Notable recreations included:
- American football player Travis Kelce, whose video garnered over 14 million views.[7]
- The French football club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).[7]
- Formula One driver Alex Albon.[11]
- Footballer Diego Luna, who used the dance as a goal celebration.[9]
- YouTuber and entertainer KSI and music producer Steve Aoki.[9]
- Arsenal Women and England women's national football team player Chloe Kelly during the Lionesses' Euro 2025 victory parade in Central London.[13]
The Phonk and Funk Carioca have made this type of viral internet challenge like Ogryzek a 6-7 highly representative.[14]
Aura battles
In July 2026, competitive "aura battles" were held in several Latin American cities, and shared on social media. In each battle, two contestants face each other to perform gestures, poses and dances, and they compete for reactions from the crowd.[15]
Clip farming
The term "clip farming", which is derived from "aura farming", refers to the practice of deliberately performing controversial, exaggerated or provocative actions in an effort to cultivate a sense of social engagement around a person.
The term originated online but has now spread to real-world contexts.
Clip farming is not synonymous with aura farming; the former is distinguished by its premeditated and overt nature, whereas the latter relies on the projection of effortless or incidental charisma.[16]
See also
- Serving cunt – Vulgar slang term
References
- 1 2 3 Wong, Brian (14 August 2025). "How an 11-Year-Old Indonesian Dancer Became a Global Meme". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 10 November 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ↑ Kandangwal, Sumnima (7 August 2025). "From a boat in Indonesia to trolleys in Hong Kong, 'aura farming' is everywhere". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
- ↑ Redacción. ""Farmear aura": el fenómeno que estalló en Argentina y Brasil estrena su primera batalla en España". El Observador (in European Spanish). Retrieved 23 August 2026.
- ↑ Simangunsong, Stu Woo and Tonggo (18 August 2025). "How an 11-Year-Old Boy on a Boat Became a Source of National Pride—and Envy". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 16 September 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
- 1 2 "Meet the Indonesian boy, 11, who has become world-famous for his 'aura farming' boat race dance". Channel News Asia. Archived from the original on 22 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ↑ "The 'aura farming' boy danced for tradition, then the internet turned it into a trend and a trap". ABC News. 15 August 2025. Archived from the original on 27 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "'I created it myself': The boy behind the viral 'aura farming' boat racing dance". BBC News. 11 July 2025. Archived from the original on 3 October 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ↑ "After the aura farming boy went viral, the online scams started". ABC News. 14 August 2025. Archived from the original on 27 September 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
- 1 2 3 Maheshwari, Sapna (22 August 2025). "How an 11-Year-Old's Boat Dance Became a Global Business Opportunity". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ↑ "Indonesian boy's 'aura farming' dance brings global spotlight to centuries-old tradition". Arab News. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
- 1 2 3 "Meet Rayyan Arkan Dhika, Indonesia's Young 'Aura Farmer' Taking The Internet By Storm". NDTV. Archived from the original on 22 October 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ↑ "Meet Rayyan Arkan Dikha, the viral 'Aura Farming' kid from Indonesia". The Economic Times. 13 July 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 May 2026. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ↑ Redacción. ""Farmear aura": el fenómeno que estalló en Argentina y Brasil estrena su primera batalla en España". El Observador (in European Spanish). Retrieved 23 August 2026.
- ↑ McCluskey, Mitchell (24 August 2026). "'Aura farming' began as a meme. Latin American youth have turned it into a competitive sport". CNN.
- ↑ Trepany, Charles (17 February 2026). "Your kids might be 'aura farming' and 'clip farming.' Do you know what it is?". USA Today. Archived from the original on 24 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.