Wormcore

Wormcore
Other names	Worm Time Worm Rights
Decade of origin	2019
Key motifs	Worm toys, Furbies, pride flags
Key colours	Neons
Key values	Human rights, spontaneity, unpredictability, humor
Related aesthetics	Kidcore Nostalgiacore Pride flags Weirdcore Feralcore (same emotional appeal) Unicorncore (similar values, keywords: purity, pride, diversity, freedom)
Related media	Oh, worm? (Meme)

Wormcore, also tagged as Worm Time, is based on the toys known as Worm On A String, Magic Worm, and Squirmles. Worm Rights may also be tagged when the post has LGBTQ+ overlap.

History

This aesthetic is theorized to have started from the Furby fandom on Tumblr, as members of the Furby fandom often joked about Squirmles being a Furby's food. The phrase "Oh, worm?" became a Tumblr meme in early 2017, thus bringing the first wave of site-wide attention to the worm toys. Additionally, a Discord server called "woerms" was created in 2021 and treated these toys as if they were living creatures. Wormcore emerged as its own subculture in mid-to-late 2019.

Wormcore memes often feature Worm-on-a-String toys making threats of violence, crime (especially arson), and the thievery of various body parts. Additionally, many include worm related puns such as asking "any last worms?" to a worm held at toy gun point.

It's Worm Time Babeyy - Tumblr Deep Dive

Strange Aeons video on the Worm community

Worm on a String TikTok Compilation (Magic Worms)

Worm on a String Tik Tok Compilation

Visuals

The Wormcore aesthetic features self expression and humor. Some key motifs include:

• Worm-related toys
• Bright colors
• Snails, frogs, slugs, bugs, and other similar creatures
• LGBTQ+ related content
• Memes
• Furbies

Fashion

Obviously dressing as a worm on a string isn't going to be possible as always, but a wormcore outfit can incorporate any of the following:

• Bright colors
• Baggy clothes
• Androgyny/gender nonconformity (but present however you're comfortable)
• Graphic tees

Music

Wormcore is not a music based subculture, but there are still songs about worms and playlists dedicated to them, as listed below. Due to the overlap in interest demographics, many of these playlists also fit into 2020 Alt and related Gen-Z aesthetics' tastes.

Songs

• Worm on a String by Dillon M.
• worm on a string by cafeteria vomit

Artists

• Lemon Demon
• Mother Mother
• Cavetown
• Mitski
• Tally Hall

Playlists

• worm on a string's playlist by silver
• The worm on a strings actual playlist by raiden <33

Gallery

A picture from a Wikihow guide demonstrating tricks one can perform with a Worm on a string.

An example of the "Worm off the string" meme.

@serendipityrow_'s worm jacket on twitter

An example of the "Oh Worm" meme.

A Transgender-themed Worm on a String meme.

from Comics by Dre

from Comics by Dre