You’ve seen them. Maybe it was a girl in a pastel room talking about "drinking the matcha" or a guy with a deadpan stare explaining why his followers need to move to a farm in rural Idaho. The let's start a cult videos trend isn't just one thing. It's a weird, messy, often satirical, and sometimes deeply uncomfortable corner of the internet that refuses to die.
It's a joke. Until it isn't.
Most of these creators are leaning into a specific brand of Gen Z nihilism. They use the aesthetic of high-control groups to talk about community, loneliness, or just selling a specific lifestyle brand. But there is a very thin line between irony and actual manipulation. When a creator tells their three million followers that they are the only ones who "really get it," the algorithm starts doing some heavy lifting that the original poster might not have even intended.
The weird psychology behind let's start a cult videos
Why do we click? Honestly, it’s probably because modern life feels incredibly isolating. We spend fourteen hours a day staring at glass rectangles. When a video pops up with the caption "let's start a cult," it taps into a primal desire for belonging. People want to be part of an "in-group."
Research into digital sociology suggests that the parasocial relationship—that one-sided bond you feel with a YouTuber—is the perfect breeding ground for cult-like dynamics. Dr. Janja Lalich, a renowned sociologist and cult expert, often discusses how charismatic leaders use "love bombing" to recruit. On TikTok, love bombing looks like a creator responding to every comment, making fans feel seen, and creating a "family" name for their fanbase.
It starts with a funny video. Then it’s a Discord server. Then it’s a Patreon. Before you know it, the "joke" has a financial structure and a set of behavioral expectations.
Why the satire often fails
The problem with irony is that it requires everyone to be in on the joke.
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In the world of let's start a cult videos, the satire is usually directed at how easy it is to manipulate people. Creators like The Garden (which was a real-life communal living project that went viral and was immediately accused of being a cult) show how fast the internet can spiral. They weren't necessarily making "let's start a cult" videos as a joke, but the internet treated them like a reality TV show.
Then you have the "cult of personality" creators. They don't use the word "cult," but they use the playbook. They isolate their audience from "mainstream" thought. They create a "us vs. them" mentality. They claim to have a secret knowledge—about fitness, crypto, or "feminine energy"—that no one else has.
Satirical videos often end up accidentally providing a blueprint for the real thing. When a creator mocks cult tactics by using them, they are still using them. The brain doesn't always distinguish between "I'm being manipulated as a joke" and "I am being influenced."
The aesthetic of the "Digital Cult"
Visuals matter. A lot.
Most let's start a cult videos rely on a specific vibe. It’s usually very clean. Minimalist. Lots of beige, white, and soft lighting. This is a far cry from the 1970s imagery of robes and incense. The modern cult leader looks like a wellness influencer. They’re wearing Lululemon. They’re drinking a green juice that costs $18.
- High-frequency sounds in the background audio.
- Direct eye contact with the camera for extended periods.
- Repetitive language or "mantras" in the captions.
These aren't just creative choices. They are engagement hacks. They trigger a trance-like state that makes the viewer more susceptible to the message. If you’ve ever found yourself scrolling through a creator’s feed for two hours, feeling a strange sense of calm and devotion, you’ve experienced the digital version of "soft-entry" recruitment.
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The "Hype House" to "High Control" pipeline
We have to talk about the business side. Because, basically, everything on social media is about money.
In the mid-2020s, the "content house" model evolved. It wasn't just about influencers living together; it became about total immersion. Some management companies began exercising what experts call "undue influence" over young creators. They controlled who they talked to, what they ate, and how they spent their money.
When viewers search for let's start a cult videos, they are often looking for the drama associated with these houses. They want to see the "exposed" videos. They want the tea. But the reality is that the entertainment value masks a very real labor issue. If a creator is forced to sign over their soul for a slice of ad revenue, is it a business, or is it a cult?
The line is blurry. It’s blurry for the creators, and it’s definitely blurry for the fans who defend them with a ferocity that borders on the religious.
How to spot the red flags in your feed
You’ve got to be skeptical. If you’re deep into a creator’s content and you start feeling like they are the only source of truth in your life, that’s a red flag.
Look at the comments. Are they all identical? "I would literally die for them." "This changed my life." "I finally found my people." If there is no room for dissent or questioning in a creator’s community, it’s not a community. It’s a closed loop.
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Genuine influencers encourage you to have a life outside of their platform. Cult-like creators want you to stay on the platform. They want your "watch time" to be your "worship time."
- Financial pressure: Does the creator constantly push "exclusive" tiers that you "need" to understand the full truth?
- Isolation: Do they tell you that your friends and family "don't understand" or are "low vibe"?
- Charismatic Authority: Do they claim to have solved a problem that no doctor, scientist, or expert has ever been able to solve?
What to do if you're stuck in the loop
If you find yourself unironically looking for let's start a cult videos because you’re lonely, step away. The algorithm is designed to feed you more of what you look at. If you look at "cult" content, you will see more "cult" content.
The best way to break the spell is to diversify your feed. Follow people you disagree with. Read a physical book. Go to a park where there is no Wi-Fi. The power of the digital cult leader relies entirely on your screen being on.
When you turn the screen off, they disappear.
Actionable Steps for Digital Literacy
- Audit your following list. If a creator makes you feel anxious or like you "owe" them your attention, unfollow immediately.
- Check the sources. If a video makes a wild claim about health or history, Google it. Use actual academic sources. Don't rely on the "top comment" for facts.
- Limit "Para-Social" time. Set a timer for how long you spend on one specific person's profile. Two hours of one person's face is not healthy for your brain.
- Identify the "Us vs. Them" language. Every time a creator mentions "haters," "the unenlightened," or "outsiders," realize they are building a wall around you.
The let's start a cult videos trend might be a joke for most, but for the algorithm, it's just another way to keep you hooked. Awareness is the only real way out. Keep your eyes open, but keep your mind your own.