Alice Pinney digs into this latest iteration of online image curation and has helpful reflections for Christian parents
Gen Alpha slang is a constantly evolving nuance that can leave parents feeling like their children are speaking an entirely different language. It’s a digital dialect shaped by memes, trends and ever changing TikTok subcultures, and just when you’ve wrapped your head around one phrase, another comes along.
The latest contender? Aura farming
It’s the latest phrase rising through the ranks of TikTok and Instagram, making its way into everything from sports edits to viral dance clips , even attracting coverage from BBC News after a video of an 11-year-old Indonesian boy dancing on a boat went viral. The phrase has since picked up momentum, with athletes and influencers jumping on board and millions of videos now tagged #aurafarming.
What is aura farming? And why might it matter for Christian families?
At first glance, the phrase sounds vaguely spiritual or “new age,” and parents might wonder whether there’s an unhelpful undertone. But aura farming is less about mysticism and more about digital presence.
For Gen Alpha, aura refers to how someone come across to others, particularly online. We might think of it as a person’s vibe, aesthetic or digital identity. It’s the subtle (or sometimes not-so-subtle) messages someone sends through what they wear, what they post, how they talk, and how effortlessly “cool” they appear to be.
It’s about working hard to craft and maintain a certain image, often by carefully choosing what to post, how to edit photos, or which trends to follow
Aura farming is the process of intentionally doing things that boost your perceived aura. It’s about working hard to craft and maintain a certain image, often by carefully choosing what to post, how to edit photos, or which trends to follow. And yet, it’s also importantly about not trying too hard. To say someone is ‘aura farming’ can be an insult saying that they’re trying too hard to be cool. It’s a delicate balance, making sure every movement looks unintentional but is still perfectly on brand.
For children, aura farming offers a way to express identity. And it’s not hard to see the appeal; aura farming offers power and control over the tumultuous questions of identity ever teenager wrestles with. But with that freedom comes pressure. What’s happening underneath the surface of the aura farming trend is a continuation of the cultural conversation about identity. Aura farming suggests that our identity is something that we project, create and curate. It implies that identity is based on how others perceive us, and that we can (and should) constantly tweak, filter and frame ourselves in ways that boost our image.
If identity is something that is manufactured, what happens when it no longer fits?
The control that the online world offers is an illusion. You can delete the photo, mute the commenter, crop out the mess. But reality doesn’t work like that. Eventually, the gap between the online self and the real self can feel impossibly hard to hold together. And many children are carrying the weight of that dissonance.
As Christians, we are invited into a radically different story. We believe that identity is not manufactured or curated but received. And, critically, we need to help children know that their worth doesn’t depend on the shifting opinions of others, or how many likes they get. Nor do they have as much power as they think they have (or might like to have) over their identity as the world says they do.
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The biblical story of identity is joyful one, and in handing control of identity over, true freedom is found. Children need to know that Scripture tells them that they fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139) in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and that they are chosen, holy and dearly loved (Colossians 3:12). The role of parents is key to help children grow more deeply in that identity as they wrestle with the questions that trends like aura farming raise, particularly in the teenage years (Ephesians 1:17-18).
So how can Christian parents help their children stay grounded in that God-given identity while navigating a world that constantly tells them to shape and project their own?
- Talk openly and ask questions. Rather than dismissing trends like aura farming, use them as conversation starters. Ask your child what they find fun about the trend? What feels pressured? How do they think others see them online? Does that match how they feel in real life? These kinds of questions create space for deeper reflection, without judgement.
- Encourage identity in Christ. If the trend is sparking discussion at home, it might be a good moment to reflect together on what Scripture says about who we are. Whether through family Bible time, a devotional, or informal conversation, help your child connect their sense of identity with the truth of being loved and known by God. And don’t forget to affirm character and spiritual growth over achievements or appearances, those small acts of celebration lay the groundwork for Godly confidence.
- Review your family’s digital habits. In a world that’s always online, it’s easy to slip into patterns of digital overexposure. Could your family build in moments of tech-free connection, meals without screens or tech free time together? Focusing on real-life relationships can help reinforce that identity is more than just online projection.
- Offer tools for discernment (and model it yourself!). Talk with your child about what they post and why. Some good questions to ask might be:
- Who am I hoping notices this?
- What do I want this to say about me?
- Is it true, loving, necessary and king?
- Would I still post this if no one could ‘like’ it?
- Does this help me love God and neighbour?
These kinds of questions don’t shame, they shape. The goal is to help parents to equip their children to discern what kind of presence they’re cultivating and why.
Whether aura farming as a trend is fleeting or will embed itself in online life remains to be seen. But youth and children need to know that they don’t need to work for their identity by earning approval or building a perfect online presence. Instead, they need reminding that they already bear God’s image.
God is already at work in your child’s digital life. The role of a parent isn’t to control it, it’s to walk alongside them, helping them discover who they truly are in Christ.
