Internet aesthetics

[[File:Wikiwave 00000.png|thumb|[[Vaporwave]] is among one of the most prominent and notable early Internet-centric aesthetics that emerged in the 2010s.]]

[[File:Wikiwave 00000.png|thumb|[[Vaporwave]] is among one of the most prominent and notable early Internet-centric aesthetics that emerged in the 2010s.]]

'''Internet aesthetics''' refers to visual styles, subcultures, and thematic trends that originated or proliferated primarily through the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Internet aesthetic {{!}} EBSCO Research Starters |url=https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/social-sciences-and-humanities/internet-aesthetic |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=www.ebsco.com |language=en}}</ref> Emerging out of the online [[blogosphere]] era among [[Millennials]] in the late 2000s and gaining significant cultural traction throughout the 2010s and 2020s amongst [[Gen Z]], internet aesthetics encompass a wide range of niche communities and visual identities associated with modern [[Youth subculture|youth subcultures]] defined by their digital circulation, curated imagery, and symbolic references to technology, nostalgia, and alternative culture typically blending elements of fashion, music, visual art, and memes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How the Internet is categorized with Aesthetics {{!}} Monopol |url=https://www.monopol-magazin.de/how-internet-categorized-aesthetics |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=www.monopol-magazin.de |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Editorial |date=2024-01-28 |title=Is aesthetics formed on the Internet? Bored generations and web hypnosis |url=https://lampoonmagazine.com/article/2024/01/28/internet-aesthetics-web-hypnosis-traumacore-weirdcore-vaporwave-dreamcore-backrooms/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Lampoon Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dazed |date=2023-12-05 |title=Are we living through a great subcultural renaissance? |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/61507/1/are-we-living-through-a-great-subcultural-renaissance |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Dazed |language=en}}</ref>

'''Internet aesthetics''' refers to visual styles, subcultures, and thematic trends that originated or proliferated primarily through the internet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Internet aesthetic {{!}} EBSCO Research Starters |url=https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/social-sciences-and-humanities/internet-aesthetic |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=www.ebsco.com |language=en}}</ref> Emerging out of the online [[blogosphere]] era among [[Millennials]] in the late 2000s and gaining significant cultural traction throughout the 2010s and 2020s amongst [[Gen Z]], internet aesthetics encompass a wide range of niche communities and visual identities associated with modern [[Youth subculture|youth subcultures]] defined by their digital circulation, curated imagery, and symbolic references to technology, nostalgia, and alternative culture, typically blending elements of fashion, music, visual art, and memes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How the Internet is categorized with Aesthetics {{!}} Monopol |url=https://www.monopol-magazin.de/how-internet-categorized-aesthetics |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=www.monopol-magazin.de |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Editorial |date=2024-01-28 |title=Is aesthetics formed on the Internet? Bored generations and web hypnosis |url=https://lampoonmagazine.com/article/2024/01/28/internet-aesthetics-web-hypnosis-traumacore-weirdcore-vaporwave-dreamcore-backrooms/ |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Lampoon Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dazed |date=2023-12-05 |title=Are we living through a great subcultural renaissance? |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/61507/1/are-we-living-through-a-great-subcultural-renaissance |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Dazed |language=en}}</ref>

These aesthetics were originally often associated with early blog-based platforms such as [[Tumblr]]. By the late 2010s to early 2020s, they later evolved to encompass social media platforms like [[TikTok]] and [[Instagram]], with the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] being linked to the proliferation of these aesthetics online.<ref name=":1" /> Notable internet aesthetics include [[Seapunk]],[[Vaporwave]], [[Cottagecore]], [[Goblincore]], [[Gorpcore]], [[E-kid|E-girls and E-boys]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dazed |date=2019-07-15 |title=E-girls and boys’ style is the antidote to the homogenised IG aesthetic |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/45266/1/e-girls-e-boys-tiktok-instagram-fashion-eve-fraser-luis-abad-gen-z-style |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Dazed |language=en}}</ref>, [[Dark academia]], [[Alt girl|2020 Alt]], and more.

These aesthetics were originally often associated with early blog-based platforms such as [[Tumblr]]. By the late 2010s to early 2020s, they later evolved to encompass social media platforms like [[TikTok]] and [[Instagram]], with the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] being linked to the proliferation of these aesthetics online.<ref name=":1" /> Notable internet aesthetics include [[Seapunk]],[[Vaporwave]], [[Cottagecore]], [[Goblincore]], [[Gorpcore]], [[E-kid|E-girls and E-boys]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dazed |date=2019-07-15 |title=E-girls and boys’ style is the antidote to the homogenised IG aesthetic |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/45266/1/e-girls-e-boys-tiktok-instagram-fashion-eve-fraser-luis-abad-gen-z-style |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Dazed |language=en}}</ref>, [[Dark academia]], [[Alt girl|2020 Alt]], and more.