Aura Farming Craze: Latin America’s New Youth Trend
POLICY WIRE — Lima, Peru — A novel phenomenon has emerged among young people in Peru’s capital, where dozens gather on beaches to engage in ‘aura battles.’ This real-world adaptation of the online...
POLICY WIRE — Lima, Peru — A novel phenomenon has emerged among young people in Peru’s capital, where dozens gather on beaches to engage in ‘aura battles.’ This real-world adaptation of the online trend known as ‘aura farming’ is rapidly gaining popularity across Latin America.
Participants, often dressed as characters from comic books or animated films, showcase their most inventive moves in dance-like competitions. The goal is to captivate the audience, with those receiving the loudest cheers and displaying the most creativity advancing to subsequent rounds.
Liam González, a 20-year-old film student, explained the essence of aura farming: It’s about letting your true self shine in a public space without any shame. González attended one such event dressed as Shrek, highlighting the trend’s emphasis on self-expression.
The trend originated in Brazil and has since spread through social media, with teenagers and adults now hosting aura battles in various Latin American cities, including Mexico City, Quito, and Buenos Aires. The phenomenon has even crossed borders, with events taking place in Spain.
Mária Paula Martínez, a professor at Colombia’s Los Andes University, noted that aura farming is not about seeking popularity but rather about exuding positive energy and having it acknowledged by others.
Fernando Lícito, a Peruvian content creator, introduced the concept to Peru after witnessing an aura farming contest in Brazil. He has since organized several battles, where participants aim to generate the most noise from the crowd without physical contact or insults.
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Despite its growing popularity, aura farming has faced resistance in some areas. Officials in Lima’s Miraflores district canceled an event due to lack of permits, and similar issues arose in Cuiaba, Brazil, and Costa Rica, where the trend was banned in public schools.
Conversely, Mexico’s education minister has embraced the trend, using it as a metaphor for fostering positive education. For participants like González, aura farming offers a fun and expressive outlet, even if not everyone understands or appreciates the practice.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
