Lore
Backstory, hidden context, or accumulated drama around a person, fandom, or meme — the wiki in your head.
Definition
Internet lore is the deep or messy history behind something — creator feuds, deleted tweets, origin myths, inside jokes. 'That's lore' means newcomers are missing context. 'Adding to the lore' means someone did something that future fans will have to explain. Gaming and YouTube communities used 'lore' for worldbuilding; TikTok broadened it to personal and celebrity drama.
History
Lore comes from Old English storytelling traditions; gaming (Dark Souls, Minecraft, ARGs) repopularized it for optional deep narrative. Twitter and TikTok in the early 2020s stretched 'lore' to any serialized online drama — streamer arcs, franchise fan theories, even cafeteria gossip with wiki energy.
Cultural scores
Editorial estimates of cultural weight — Current Popularity tracks how much people are posting about this now, not historical fame.
Current Popularity = how actively people are posting about this today. Influence = lasting footprint. Cringe = online reception. Brainrot = absurdist energy. How scoring works
Examples
- “You need the 2019 tweet for this meme — that's lore.”
- “He showed up in her stream chat. Lore updated.”
- “The company reply-all email is corporate lore now.”
Related entries
Culturally linked — not random recommendations.
NPC
SlangCalling someone an NPC means they seem scripted, basic, or incapable of original thought — like a background video-game character.
Brainrot
SlangMental deterioration from consuming too much chaotic internet content — also the content itself. Oxford's Word of the Year 2024.
Stan
SlangAn obsessive, loyal fan — from Eminem's stalker anthem to verb form for wholehearted support.
Receipts
SlangProof — screenshots, DMs, timelines — saved for when someone denies what they said or did.
References
Sources behind this entry. Prefer primary reporting and established culture archives over rumor.
- Lore (gaming) — Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org