Aura farming: New word in the Gen Z dictionary

An 11-year-old Indonesian boy named Rayyan Arkan Dhika has taken the internet by storm with his ‘cool’ boat racing dance moves. In the clip that has gone viral, Dhika can be seen dancing on the tip of a boat to energise the rowers as a part of the national Pacu Jalur boat race. What has attracted the entire world’s attention is the boy’s effortless moves, a mesmerising blend of swag, stability and spirit, all while balancing on a speedy narrow boat mid-race. He has become the definition of aura farming, with Gen Z hailing him as the ultimate ‘reaper’ or ‘aura farmer’.It refers to actively curating your personality by choosing the way you look, behaving a certain way, and associating yourself with things that make you desirable, interesting and appear effortlessly cool. It is like cultivating a charisma, an aura, especially on digital mediums.According to experts, aura farming is a mix of rizz and charisma, but with its own vibe. Parth Gupta, behavioural and clinical psychologist, says, “If rizz is about romantic charm and charisma is about general likability, aura is the cool energy you give off before you even speak. It’s about style, mood, and how you present yourself online or in real life.” Adding to this, Ruuh says, “It’s less about what you say and more about how you’re perceived, even if that perception is virtual.”The word is believed to have first gained popularity in anime fan communities, where characters with calm, confident energy were praised purely for their vibe. It soon spread across the internet. Ruchi Ruuh, a counselling psychologist, says, “The term has given language to a behaviour (of strategically cultivating personal style) that was already happening. Gen Z’s knack for creating language around emotions and online habits makes aura farming a natural fit.Dhika’s moves have evolved into celebratory hook steps. From everyday users to top-tier celebrities, everyone is sharing their take online. F1 driver Alex Albon, NFL star Travis Kelce, and players from the Paris Saint-Germain football team have all joined the trend, cementing the dance as a global sports flex. Off the field, Timothée Chalamet stands as the ultimate celebrity aura master. As Paul Atreides in Dune, his quiet intensity, slow walks, and dramatic cape swishes weren’t just part of the role; they defined peak aura. Recently, the Republic of Singapore Navy also performed Dhika’s signature moves aboard its MSRV Protector and posted a video of the same on Instagram.(By mental health experts Parth Gupta and Ruchi Ruuh)