In recent weeks, a new trend has gained significant momentum among young people across Latin America: "aura farming."
In the world of video games, "farming" means collecting points toward a goal. Under the Merriam-Webster Dictionary's "Slang and Trending" category, aura farming means "the act of doing something to look cool, impressive, stylish, etc." To "farm aura," the dictionary further explains, means to "do something in order to enhance one's coolness."
The expression spread rapidly on social media platforms like TikTok, sparking curiosity and a following, primarily among Gen Z youth. However, the phenomenon's viral nature quickly moved from screens to the streets.
Through specific gestures that have become hallmarks of the trend, young people gather to "farm aura" and even hold competitions featuring distinctive poses, facial expressions, or ways of walking, with the surrounding crowd deciding who performed best.
Cardinal Fernando Chomali, archbishop of Santiago, Chile, recently reflected on this new trend: "'Aura farming' is a desperate cry from young people to be seen, heard, valued, loved, and acknowledged. It's a different version of the 'therian' trend [a person who psychologically identifies with an animal], reflecting the same worrying phenomenon: Many young people feel lonely! And, regrettably, little is said about that," he commented on X.
In another post, the cardinal advised young people: "The best way to aura farm is to approach life with hope and joy. I invite you to study assiduously and to prepare your body and soul well to serve others. What better way to aura farm than by thinking big and building a more just country! Aura for and by Chile!" he commented.
On Aug. 27, the cardinal highlighted a relevant social service in Santiago: "The Franciscans of Recoleta, day after day, provide lunch for 150 people. The soup kitchen is very orderly and has a wholesome atmosphere." The stories the guests "tell of so many people without a home, without family, with nothing, except a lunch served with love by the friars and their collaborators. I love the Church and am happy to have given my life to it! Purely aura farming with Christ," he stated.
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This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
