What Are Aura Points? The TikTok Slang Trend Explained

Gen Z's obsessed with aura points, their funny way of scoring social coolness. Learn what they mean and how to gain (or avoid losing) yours.

Remember that kid in high school who could walk into any room and instantly own it?

The one who somehow made dropping their lunch tray look smooth?

That person had what Gen Z now calls “aura points”… and honestly, they might be onto something.

If you’ve been scrolling through TikTok lately (or have teens who won’t stop saying “that’s negative aura”), you’ve probably encountered this mysterious social currency.

But what are aura points, exactly? And why is everyone suddenly calculating their invisible coolness score? In this article, we’ll decode this viral trend, explore how people gain (and hilariously lose) their aura points, and discover what science actually says about this intangible social magnetism.

What Are Aura Points?

Aura points are an imaginary social currency used primarily on TikTok to measure someone’s vibe, charisma, and effortless coolness.

They’re like invisible credits you gain for being smooth, confident, or mysteriously attractive… and lose for being awkward, trying too hard, or having embarrassing moments.

Unlike the spiritual concept of auras (those colorful energy fields some people claim to see), aura points slang has nothing to do with chakras or cosmic energy. Instead, it’s Gen Z’s playful way of quantifying the indefinable quality that makes someone captivating.

Speaking of captivating others… want to learn the social skills necessary to do just that? Check out:

The beauty of the aura system is that everyone’s constantly gaining and losing aura points in real-time. Walk into a glass door? That’s minus 1,000 aura points. Catch something mid-air without looking? Plus 500. It’s like a video game scoreboard for social presence, where everyone’s both a player and a judge.

The Psychology Behind Why Aura Points Went Viral

The aura points meme isn’t just random internet nonsense. It actually taps into validated science on our brain’s constant evaluation of social hierarchies and interpersonal dynamics.

Studies (source) show that humans are hardwired to assess social status within seconds of meeting someone. We’re constantly (and often unconsciously) evaluating who has influence, who’s trustworthy, and yes, who’s got that special something that draws people in.

The aura points TikTok trend brilliantly gamifies this natural tendency. By turning charisma into a point system, Gen Z has created a shared language for something we’ve always noticed but couldn’t quite articulate. It’s simultaneously a joke and a genuine social observation tool.

Research (source) also finds that humor helps us process social anxiety and navigate complex social dynamics. By laughing about gaining or losing points, young people are actually developing emotional intelligence and social awareness; they’re just doing it through memes instead of textbooks.

How to Gain Aura Points

Want to level up your aura game? Here’s what TikTok considers peak aura behavior (backed by some surprising science):

Be Effortlessly Excellent

The guitarist at the party needs a harmony, and you casually deliver it while walking by. No big deal, just vibes. Research shows that displaying competence without obvious effort triggers what psychologists call the “pratfall effect (source)” in reverse: we’re more attracted to people who make difficult things look easy.

Pro Tip: Whatever your skill is, practice until it becomes second nature. The less you have to think about it, the more aura you radiate.

Be Unbothered

Studies (source) find that people who can regulate their emotions and maintain composure under pressure are perceived as more charismatic and trustworthy. This is why staying cool when someone tries to rattle you sends your aura points through the roof.

Examples of high-aura responses:

• Friend roasts your outfit: “Thanks for noticing! I call this look ‘laundry day chic’”
• You trip in public: Stand up and take a bow like it was planned
• Someone’s clearly trying to make you jealous: Genuinely happy for their success

Exude Quiet Confidence

You know those people who rarely speak but when they do, everyone listens? Pure aura points material. Research (source) on social dynamics shows that strategic silence can actually increase your perceived status and influence.

Action Step: In your next group conversation, try pausing before speaking. Count to three before responding. This tiny delay makes your words feel more intentional and weighted.

Turn Fumbles Into Features

Self-deprecating humor, when done right, actually increases likability and perceived confidence, according to studies (source) on social connection. So when you spill coffee on yourself and immediately quip “I’m just testing if brown is my color,” you’re racking up aura points.

Leave Them Wanting More

Research (source) finds that maintaining some mystery and unpredictability makes people more intriguing and memorable. This explains why leaving a party at its peak hits different than being the last person stumbling out at 3 AM. Sometimes the highest aura points move is knowing when to make your exit.

How to Lose Aura Points

Now for the painful part: the moments that drain your aura faster than a phone battery at a music festival:

Trying Too Hard

Practicing your “spontaneous” laugh in the mirror? Minus 5,000 points. Research confirms what we instinctively know: even babies can detect inauthenticity from a mile away. Our brains are incredibly sophisticated at picking up micro-expressions that don’t match someone’s words.

Classic aura-draining behaviors:

• Name-dropping in every conversation
• Fake-laughing way too loud at mediocre jokes
• Posting “candid” photos that took 47 attempts
• Using big words incorrectly to sound smart

Pro Tip: Authenticity beats perfection every time. Your genuine awkward laugh has more aura than any practiced cool-guy chuckle.

Overexplaining

You make a joke, nobody laughs, so you explain why it’s funny. That’s what TikTokers call “negative aura points” behavior. Confidence includes knowing when to let things go; overexplaining signals insecurity.

The Fumble Festival

We’ve all been there:

• Waving back at someone who wasn’t waving at you (minus 1,000)
• Pushing a door that clearly says “pull” (minus 500)
• Saying “you too!” when the waiter says “enjoy your meal” (minus 2,000)
• Trying to fist bump someone going for a handshake (minus 3,000)

But recall our tip on gaining aura points in the earlier section: how you handle fumbles speaks volumes! A quick laugh and moving on can actually net you positive points.

Defensive Spiralling

Someone gives you constructive feedback and you launch into a 10-minute explanation of why they’re wrong? You’re losing aura points by letting ego override growth. People who can accept feedback gracefully are seen as more confident and mature.

Seeking Validation

Fishing for compliments, constantly checking if people laughed at your joke, or repeatedly asking “was that okay?” are all major aura drains. Research (source) on social confidence shows that seeking excessive reassurance actually pushes people away.

Action Step: Next time you feel the urge to ask for validation, pause and ask yourself: “What would someone with maximum aura do?” (Hint: they wouldn’t ask.)

Aura Points Examples (What it Looks Like to Gain and Lose Them)

Want a quick reference guide for your aura points? Here’s how the same situations can go either way:

Pro Tip: Notice the pattern? High aura points behavior stays calm, owns the moment, and doesn’t spiral. Low aura tries to control what others think, and that’s exactly what kills the vibe.

Viral Examples from the Aura Points Trend

The internet has produced some legendary aura moments. Here are the hall-of-fame entries that perfectly capture this phenomenon:

The Smooth Criminal Stories

Ever tried one of those notoriously difficult stick catching games at the carnival? If you have, chances are you heard more than a few metal clanks on the floor. But this guy definitely didn’t:

https://youtube.com/shorts/_oKts8T81IA?si=vFOnIQJ6XpThtKgO

Here’s a compilation of more smooth aura moments that took the internet by storm:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KgmyOzI81Kg

The Legendary Recoveries

The best aura points content often features people turning small fumbles into smooth moments. These viral clips show folks who faced potential awkwardness but played it off so well they actually gained social credit:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_SQvSQaB5sg (source)

Hilarious Aura Loss Moments

Then there are the clips that make us all cringe (and laugh) in solidarity: those perfectly relatable moments where someone’s aura points plummet in real-time:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mB90a3Fppfc

Aura Points in Different Contexts

The beauty of this trend is how the concept adapts to different situations:

Professional Aura

In the workplace, aura translates to executive presence. It’s the colleague who:

• Handles tough questions without defensiveness: When the boss asks why the project is behind schedule, they calmly explain the roadblocks and their solution plan: no blame game, no panic, just facts and forward movement
• Admits mistakes with grace: “I completely misread that data. Here’s what I learned and how I’m fixing it.” No lengthy excuses, no throwing teammates under the bus
• Makes decisive moves without arrogance: They’ll make the call when others are waffling, but they’ll also change course if new information proves them wrong
• Can laugh at themselves during tense moments: Accidentally shares the wrong screen during a presentation? “Well, now you all know my coffee order. Back to the quarterly reports…”
• Gives credit generously: When praised for a project’s success, they immediately highlight their team’s contributions without false modesty

Dating Aura

In romance, high aura means:

• Being genuinely interested without being desperate: They ask follow-up questions about your passions but don’t interrogate you like it’s a job interview
• Handling rejection with class: “No worries, I hope you find what you’re looking for!” Then actually moves on instead of sending 15 “you sure?” texts
• Making the first move confidently (regardless of outcome): Shoots their shot clearly and directly. If it lands, great; if not, they’re not crushed
• Not constantly checking if your date is having fun: Trusts that adults can communicate their needs instead of asking “Is this okay?” every five minutes
• Maintaining their own life: Doesn’t immediately clear their schedule for the next six months or start planning your wedding after date two
• Reading the room on physical touch: Goes for the kiss when the moment’s right, not when they’ve created a 10-point checklist of “signs”

Social Media Aura

The ultimate test of modern aura? How you handle yourself online:

• Posting without immediately checking likes: Shares that sunset photo because they enjoyed it, not because they need validation from 500 acquaintances
• Getting roasted and responding with humor: Someone mocks their outfit pic? “Thanks for the engagement, bestie!” or just hearts their comment and moves on
• Sharing failures alongside successes: Posts about getting rejected from their dream job with the same energy as their promotion announcements
• Not deleting posts that didn’t get enough engagement: That joke that only got 3 likes? It stays up because they still think it’s funny
• Avoiding the subtle flex: No “just happened to walk past my Mercedes” or “ugh another vacation invitation, so exhausting”
• Supporting others without making it about them: Comments genuine congratulations without adding “same thing happened to me when…”

The Science of Real Charisma vs. Internet Aura

While aura points slang might seem like just another internet trend, it actually aligns surprisingly well with research on charisma and social magnetism.

Studies (source) show that truly charismatic people share certain qualities:

Presence: They’re fully engaged in the moment, not constantly checking their phone or looking around the room. In aura terms? They’re not trying to be somewhere cooler.

Power: Not dominance, but the quiet confidence that comes from being comfortable in your own skin. It’s knowing you can handle whatever comes your way, whether that’s a pop quiz or a public stumble.

Warmth: Genuine interest in others, expressed through eye contact, active listening, and authentic reactions. High-aura people make others feel seen and valued.

Research (source) finds that charisma can actually be learned and developed. So in a way, thinking about gaining aura points might actually help people become more socially confident as long as they remember the golden rule: the moment you try too hard, you’ve already lost.

Whether you call it aura or charisma, these skills are totally learnable, and that’s what we’re all about helping you do at Science of People. Get started with: The Charismatic Personality: 12 Traits You Can Master.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Aura Points

What is the simple definition of “aura points” on TikTok?

Aura points are TikTok’s imaginary scoring system for measuring someone’s coolness and charisma. You gain points for smooth, confident behavior and lose them for awkward moments or trying too hard. It’s Gen Z’s playful way of quantifying that intangible quality that makes someone magnetic.

How does a person “gain” or “lose” aura points?

You gain aura points through authentic confidence, smooth recoveries, and genuine kindness without seeking recognition. You lose points by trying too hard, overexplaining, being defensive, or having those classic awkward moments like waving back at someone who wasn’t waving at you.

What are some viral examples of gaining aura points?

Popular examples include the student who caught their accidentally-thrown pencil mid-air without looking, someone who got stood up but turned it into a wholesome dinner with elderly strangers, and the dancer whose shoe fell off so they kicked off the other one and kept going barefoot.

What are some funny examples of losing aura points?

Classic aura drains: pulling a “push” door, typing a heartfelt paragraph to get back “k,” doing finger guns at your crush, or explaining why your joke was funny after silence. The worst? Laughing at your own joke before finishing it.

Is having a good “aura” the same as being charismatic?

Related but different. Charisma is a stable quality involving presence and warmth. Aura points slang is Gen Z’s take on momentary coolness: you might be charismatic but still lose points for walking into a glass door.

Where did the “aura points” trend originally start?

The aura points meme emerged on TikTok in 2024, evolving from sports content to everyday situations. It exploded because it gave people a humorous framework for something we all notice but couldn’t articulate.

How is this slang term used in popular memes?

Creators overlay “+500 aura” or “-1000 aura” on videos showing smooth or awkward moments. Popular formats include “POV: calculating your friend’s aura points” and compilation videos of legendary aura moments. The phrase “that’s negative aura” has entered everyday conversation.

Can you have negative aura points?

Yes! Having negative aura points is part of the joke. Everyone starts at zero and can go into “aura debt” after embarrassing moments. But one smooth recovery can swing you back to positive territory, just like real life.

Your Aura Points Are Waiting

At the end of the day, the aura points trend is just Gen Z’s clever way of naming something we’ve always known: some people have that special something, and—plot twist—it usually comes from not trying to have it.

So the next time you accidentally wave at a stranger, trip over nothing, or completely butcher someone’s name, remember: your response to the fumble matters more than the fumble itself. And who knows? Your recovery might just earn you some serious aura points.

Ready to level up your real-world charisma beyond the memes? Check out our guide on how to develop genuine confidence and social magnetism with: The Charismatic Personality: 12 Traits You Can Master.