10 of the Weirdest and Most Fascinating Internet Aesthetics
A glimpse into the strange world of social media subcultures
Internet aesthetics have rapidly proliferated in the past few years, perhaps accelerated by the pandemic. Stuck at home and in need of new ways to connect with others, some people have turned to social media communities focused on unusual micro-trends. In 2020 alone, internet traffic to Aesthetics Wiki, a comprehensive database of various internet aesthetics, exploded by nearly 10,000%!
You might be wondering what exactly an internet aesthetic is in the first place. The term “aesthetic”, when used as a noun, is defined as a “philosophical theory or set of principles governing (an) idea of beauty at a given time and place”.
Major art movements like Cubism and Surrealism are types of mainstream aesthetics. In contrast, the more recent phenomenon of internet aesthetics tends to revolve around very niche interests. Themes vary widely: some incorporate lifestyle elements that can be actively practiced, while others are “visual schema” that don’t exist outside of Pinterest moodboards. Some are oddly specific, while others are vague and based on obscure emotions that may not have names, but are just distinctive enough that you immediately “get it” when you see examples.
