The American internet folklore that Gen Z made

The podcast explores the American internet folklore known as 'creepypasta', primarily created and popularized by Gen Z in the 2010s. It examines the origins, cultural significance, and legacy of various creepypasta creatures and stories, concluding that while the subculture may have waned, its influence on American culture is likely to persist for some time.

SCP Foundation

• 00:04:00 The SCP Foundation is a collaborative fiction project originating from a 2007 post on 4chan, centered around a secret organization containing and studying monsters. It's evolved into a website with thousands of entries, impacting various content creators who use it as source material for their videos and podcasts.

The Rake

• 00:07:43 The Rake is a generic monster featured in a 2006 story on the SomethingAwful forums. Its popularity increased with the addition of fan-made photos and art, becoming a symbol of internet folklore and a subject of interest in the creepypasta subculture.

Jeff the Killer

• 00:08:50 'Jeff the Killer' originated from a distorted image and was given a backstory in 2011 on the Creepypasta Wiki. The character evolved into an anti-hero with fanfiction and fan art, inspiring other creepypasta characters with similar themes.

Creepypasta Characters

• 00:10:18 Many creepypasta characters, such as Eyeless Jack and Ben Drowned, have transitioned from overtly creepy to more relatable and cool figures, particularly among preteens. This can be seen as a trend within the subculture, where the characters become more popular due to their relatability.

Slender Man

• 00:17:46 Slender Man was created in 2009 as a submission to a fake photo contest. Following the release of a Slender Man-themed game, the character gained popularity, although his cultural relevance has diminished due to a 2014 stabbing incident in Wisconsin. The incident highlights potential dangers of introducing sophisticated horror hoaxes to young children.