Chile sees rise of “aura battle” youth trend in public spaces

A new youth trend known as “aura battles” has emerged in Chile, moving from internet and video game culture into public spaces like parks and plazas. In these challenges, adolescents engage in duels of poses, gestures, and personality demonstrations while a crowd observes to determine who projects the most “aura.”

Psychologist Camila Navarrete from Universidad UNIACC notes that while these dynamics allow teenagers to explore identity and social skills, they carry risks. She warns that the trend can lead to self-esteem becoming overly dependent on external validation and social media metrics like followers and views.

The trend has also reached school environments; in Valdivia, a video of a school inspector participating in an “aura battle” with his students went viral on social media, receiving widespread praise from users for his engagement with the younger generation.