How ‘lore’ became the internet’s favorite way to overshare

Lore isn’t just for games like The Elder Scrolls or films like The Lord of the Rings—online, it has evolved into something entirely new.

The Old English word made the shortlist for Oxford University Presss’ 2024 Word of the Year (though it ultimately lost to brain rot). Oxford defines lore as “a body of (supposed) facts, background information, and anecdotes relating to someone or something, regarded as knowledge or required for full understanding or informed discussion of the subject in question.” Historically, the term has been tied to teaching and knowledge-sharing, with roots stretching back nearly a thousand years.

Today, however, lore has evolved into internet slang for the dramatic—and sometimes traumatic—details that define a person’s identity. “When your mum casually drops lore like it’s nothing serious but it’s genuinely some of the most insane stuff you’ve ever heard,” reads one post on TikTok. “Me the second I get to college when i get to lore drop my whole life to my new roommate,” reads another. 

For some reason, the Account Planning Group of Canada offers a handy breakdown of the concept on TikTok. In the video, a Gen Z creator explains three key uses of lore: having lore (possessing a mysterious or intriguing backstory), dropping lore (revealing a previously unknown life event), and dad lore—the joke that fathers will casually reveal insane anecdotes from their past, leaving their children struck by how little they truly know about them. 

@apgcanada

Watch until the end to learn how to use “lore” in your next meeting! Have you heard all 3 of these uses of “lore” before? #lore #genz #strategy #marketing

♬ son original – APG Canada

Social media thrives on oversharing, and TikTok has made personal storytelling more common than ever. Influencers seamlessly incorporate lore drops into “get ready with me” videos, using their makeup routines as a backdrop for revealing deeply personal stories. A 2022 survey found that one in three Gen Z young adults has shared their mental health struggles on social media. When a potential TikTok ban loomed in late January, creators rushed to disclose their most closely held lore—fearing they might never get another chance.

“It’s a word of the heart and not the head,” Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster’s editor at large, told The Wall Street Journal’s Ashley Wong. “Lore conveys emotion somehow, in that organic way, and that’s just a beautiful kind of repossession of this word.”

But, as one TikTok user pointed out, the trend has a darker side: “When you realize the lore you dropped actually happened and isn’t a funny little treat to share with the group & it has altered your personality and perspective forever and you won’t ever be the same.”

https://www.fastcompany.com/91282803/how-lore-became-the-internets-favorite-way-to-overshare?partner=rss&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss+fastcompany&utm_content=rss

Vytvořeno 4mo | 24. 2. 2025 13:20:04


Chcete-li přidat komentář, přihlaste se

Ostatní příspěvky v této skupině

Space and defense tech firm Voyager raises $382.8 million in IPO

Voyager Technologies raised $382.8 million in its U.S. initial public offering, the space and defense tech company said on Tuesday, amid a

11. 6. 2025 18:50:03 | Fast company - tech
Hinge is teaming up with Esther Perel to rethink dating prompts

Need help sparking conversation on Hinge? Esther Perel has some questions for you.

The renowned ps

11. 6. 2025 14:20:05 | Fast company - tech
Gen Z is embracing a digital detox and the ‘Martha Stewart summer’

If last summer was for the 365 party girl, this year it’s all about the digital detox.

At least that’s according to

11. 6. 2025 14:20:04 | Fast company - tech
Databricks’ new ‘One’ dashboard brings AI to the business class (exclusive)

Databricks, known for secure data storage and AI, has launched a new AI business intelligence dashboard

11. 6. 2025 14:20:04 | Fast company - tech
Mark Zuckerberg’s superintelligence gamble: Can billions and bold hires save Meta’s AI ambitions?

Mark Zuckerberg has decided he wants to claw back lost ground in the AI race, and he’s willing to spend heavily to do it.

The Meta CEO is

11. 6. 2025 14:20:02 | Fast company - tech
Teaching AI isn’t enough—we need to teach wisdom, too

Artificial intelligence is shaking the intellectual, emotional, and economic foundations of the world. A glance at mainstream or social media confirms that the

11. 6. 2025 11:50:03 | Fast company - tech
Boomerang CEO Aye Moah helped manage our inboxes. Now she’s taking on our calendars

It’s become increasingly common for people to devote

11. 6. 2025 11:50:03 | Fast company - tech