Aura Farming to 6-7: The Slang That Defined Online Conversations in 2025

Each year, the internet gives birth to a new lexicon, one that's as fast-moving as the trends that fuel it. 2025 was no different, delivering a fresh crop of viral slang that became shorthand for everything from cultural moments to digital quirks. These terms are more than words; they're creative expressions of identity in an ever-evolving online landscape. Whether you were on TikTok, YouTube, or just scrolling, these are the terms that dominated conversations among Gen Z and Gen Alpha this year.

The Language of Presence and Performance

Aura farming

This is the art of cultivating a magnetic energy that pulls people into your orbit. Whether it's exuding confidence or just owning the room, Aura farming is about crafting an undeniable vibe to elevate one's status. The phrase peaked this year, with Sung Jinwoo, the protagonist of the anime Solo Leveling, becoming the internet’s unofficial king of the practice.

Cook, cooking, cooked

When someone says "let me cook," they're about to flex their skills or deliver an impressive idea. It’s the digital equivalent of saying, "Watch this." But there's a flip side. To be "cooked" means you're done for, out of options, or completely exhausted. It signals that it's all over.

Ate, chewed, nibbled

To say something "ate" is the highest form of praise, meaning it was executed flawlessly with nothing left to improve. Originating in Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ ballroom culture, the term now has tiers. "She chewed" implies a great but not-quite-perfect performance, while "she nibbled" signals it was good but with clear room for more.

From Niche Communities to Mainstream Memes

Fanum tax

Born from the antics of Twitch streamer Fanum, the "Fanum tax" is the cheeky act of snagging a bite of a friend’s food without asking. Beyond its literal meaning, the phrase has become an ironic punchline that can be inserted into almost any context to describe playful theft or entitlement.

Clock that tea

This phrase describes the act of noticing juicy gossip or hidden truths before others do. It combines "clock" (to observe) and "tea" (gossip). Rooted in queer vernacular, particularly drag and drag-adjacent spaces, it's a way to acknowledge someone's sharp social perception.

Gooning

While it began as a niche kink term for prolonged masturbation leading to a trance-like state, "gooning" has expanded dramatically. In queer communities and online, it's used sincerely and ironically to describe any ecstatic, over-the-top obsession—from spiraling through memes to watching a favorite show on loop. It's now cultural shorthand for intense immersion and losing control in any sense.

6-7

A nonsense catchphrase turned IRL emote, "6-7" comes from J Billz rap track "Doot Doot." The sound was co-opted by TikTok for basketball edits, then took on a life of its own with a signature up-and-down hand motion. What does it mean? Absolutely nothing. It's pure silliness, repeated simply because it feels fun.