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Twitch streamers and internet creators are revitalizing “Hopecore,” but what is it anyway?

As the first generation to grow up fully in internet culture, Generation Z – those born between 1997 and 2012 – is aware of the duality of social media's negative impact and its necessity in everyday life.

While many associate the internet with trolls, hateful comments, and toxicity (which are still rampant), young people have been looking for positive media to escape the IRL stress since Trump's presidency in 2017. Generation Z generally felt unheard and powerless, either because they were part of the young voting group (and therefore didn't take it all that seriously) or because of their age they couldn't vote at all in this election. So they decided to transform a space where they felt more heard and empowered: the internet.

This started with “wholesome” content, which grew in popularity starting in 2018 and peaked in 2020 as the world looked for something to be happy about. “Healthy” has become a common adjective in Generation Z circles, referring to something that is pure, kind, and good. Around the same time, there were more references to “-core” culture in Gen Z's online language, probably from the term “hardcore” or even the idea of ​​”core” being at the center of something – like its essentials components. For example, aesthetics that reflect strong pastoral themes have been referred to as “cottagecore.” Terms like “dreamcore,” “balletcore,” and even “corecore” hit the zeitgeist with alarming regularity. And starting in 2022, the term “Hopecore” began to appear, referring to wholesome content that provides hope for humanity or the possibility of improving the overall state of the world.

Hopecore content has taken different forms on various social media platforms since appearing in 2022. There are over 700,000 posts under #hopecore on TikTok, where the term appears to be most popular – likely due to TikTok's widespread use among Generation Z.

Cian, 20, who runs the TikTok account HopeCoreEveryday, saw some people posting Hopecore content on the app around February 2024 and decided to capitalize on the trend. “The online environment tends to lack positivity, and I knew that an influx of positive content across the platform would lead to great success,” Cian said.

Most of Cian's posts indicate hopecore content: an uplifting short video or compilation of positive videos, sometimes with moving music and a motivational message in the center of the screen.

Cian said that with videos, it is important to convey clear messages so that the content resonates with viewers, as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are similar in that short-form content dominates these platforms. And they have resonance. Cian's account has 433,000 followers who often respond positively to his content.

“A lot of people have said that when they feel depressed, they watch my videos to feel better,” Cian said Complex via TikTok DMs. “It really inspires me to keep posting because even though I don't know that person personally, I can bring a positive feeling into someone's world. And that’s what Hopecore is all about.”

Instagram ranks second in Hopecore with 131,000 posts under the hashtag, although most of them don't follow a specific format.

Kaitlyn Macdonald, 22, also known as Totalalone on Instagram, has one of the largest accounts on the platform, which regularly posts Hopecore, with 1,400 posts and 116,000 followers. She started her account in 2016 as a hobby to express her feelings and connect with others.

“Last year I posted a lot of sad content and then gradually started posting hopecore,” Macdonald said Complex via Instagram DMs. “Someone commented that they noticed my account had become a lot more positive. I feel so seen when he notices the little things!”

Macdonald first saw the hopecore trend on TikTok and began finding inspiration for her own hopecore posts on Pinterest and Tumblr.

“Every post I saw reminded me that there is always more to look forward to,” Macdonald explained. “Hopecore content has really given people the space and space to allow themselves to feel their emotions.” A lot of people have told me how much my posts have helped them get through things, and that's all that's about it really works.”

As expected, the hopecore trend is present but scattered on X/Twitter and Facebook, where there are far fewer Gen Zers. The apparent first use of #hopecore on Facebook is similar, where most Hopecore posts are actually reposts from other platforms.

Chelsea, 27, maintains what she calls an “uncomfortably nice” community of nearly 24,000 followers on Twitch under the name WhoisChelsea.

“What I see on TikTok and Instagram is everything to watch and understand in short form,” Chelsea said Complex via Discord DMs. “YouTube might be a little closer, but Twitch is really different because it's live, happening now and every day. It actually gives you the opportunity to actively participate in Hopecore.”

Hopecore has always been at the heart of Chelsea's Twitch experience. She started watching Twitch in 2017 when some of her friends started streaming, and said the community and friendly chats kept her on the Amazon-owned livestreaming platform.

Soon, the same community encouraged her to stream. She wasn't sure if it was right for her, but given her experience in the entertainment industry, she thought she would give it a try. She had her first stream in January 2018 – and it was a flop.

“Everything broke,” she said. “I tried to play.” Minecraftand it was so restless. I think I gave up within 30 minutes, went live on my phone and was like, 'I'm so sorry, it's not working.'”

Then someone in the community, who wanted to remain anonymous, gifted Chelsea the opportunity to start streaming with better technology. It was enough to buy a modest laptop, a webcam and a microphone.

“I thought, ‘What’s going on? “Someone actually believes in me,” she said. “To this day I don't know why.” He says that it wasn't him, that I built everything on my own, and he's trying to give me that power back. But I really think I would have just quit or shoved it under a rock, especially considering what my self-esteem and confidence were at the time. But I don’t know, it was just the kindness in his heart.”

For Chelsea, maintaining the positivity was a no-brainer.

“If you have the opportunity as a streamer to create your own community and environment, why not create it into one that is inclusive? Leave things better than you found them.”

For many members of Generation Z, this is an important point: the discourse on social media and the internet is confused. So what can be done to make it better?

Twitch is really different because it's live, happening now and every day. It actually gives you the opportunity to actively participate in Hopecore. – WhoisChelsea

“There are so many wonderful communities on Twitch, and I just feel like they don't get highlighted enough because of the drama, the bigger streamers, and a lot of the bad things that people do that are making the rounds,” Chelsea said. “But there is so much good happening on Twitch.”

This good includes helping people achieve their goals, participating in charities, helping community members raise money for needs like medical costs or housing, simply building relationships, and more.

“People come and say that they've been able to make friends or that they're in a really dark situation, and the opportunity to socialize or be seen and heard gives them hope to move on or push through,” Chelsea explained . “For me, that’s what Hopecore is: people who get the chance to recognize their humanity and know that they can move on.”

Hopecore may not seem as obvious on Twitch as it does on some other social media platforms, as at first glance it's mostly people playing video games. Even if you came across Chelsea's stream, you might be confused; The first impression you might get is all about horror movies. The walking dead Franchises and scary video games. But as Chelsea said, horror and scary content can still be hopeful content.

“The people in these movies say, 'I'm not giving up.' “I will work towards everything so that my family and we can survive,” she said. “And as far as the history of horror goes, horror has continued to increase in times when the world is actually going through really hard times. People are actually using it as an outlet.”

Chelsea's recent degree in Psychology and Sociology from California State University leads her to understand why this juxtaposition occurs and leads her to promote a healthy sense of escapism in her community.

“Unfortunately, when it comes to bigger things like war, we have to be passive,” she said. “It's getting overwhelming because I'm just an average person here.” I don't know anything. How should I help? We don't like that, and our brain doesn't like that. We see bad things happening and want to help. This is where Hopecore comes in and the reason Twitch is so nice because we can see things happening and actually help because things are happening on a smaller scale. They can regain some agency.”

So if you're feeling overwhelmed by world conflict, this election year, or personal drama, look to Hopecore for optimism for the future. You can enjoy Hopecore content on TikTok or Instagram to regulate yourself, or you can participate in a live Hopecore community on Twitch like Chelsea's to bring hope to someone else.

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