The Origins and Evolution of Creepypasta: How Did Creepypasta Get Started?

Creepypasta refers to horror-related legends or images that have been copied and pasted across the internet, often originating from early internet forums and message boards. The term itself is a portmanteau of copy and paste. This article delves into the roots of creepypasta, exploring its origins, notable stories, and how it has evolved into a widespread internet phenomenon.

Origins: Early Internet Culture

The roots of creepypasta can be traced back to early internet forums and message boards in the early 2000s. Websites like 4chan, Something Awful, and other online communities served as platforms where users shared scary stories, urban legends, and personal anecdotes. These early forums laid the groundwork for what would eventually become the phenomenon known as creepypasta.

Notable Early Stories

Some of the earliest and most famous creepypasta stories include:

Marble Hornets (2010): A series of fake horror documentary recordings by a group of charter members of an isolated cult in Washington State. The story began as a YouTube series but grew into a comprehensive narrative spanning the internet. Slender Man (2009): Created by Amanda Smyth, this character is a tall, thin, seemingly ominous figure, often depicted in various terrifying poses. The Slender Man mythos has since expanded into numerous stories, videos, and even games. Santa's Workshop (2008): A series of blog posts that tell the strange and horrifying adventures of a naughty boy who accidentally ends up in a creepy workshop. The Amityville Horror House (2008): Based on the real-life supposedly haunted Amityville house, this story has been reinterpreted and adapted through various creepypasta formats.

Coping and Sharing: The Rise of Dedicated Websites

The term creepypasta itself is a portmanteau of copy and paste. Early stories were often copied from forums and pasted into new formats, such as blog posts or video scripts. This practice helped spread the horror stories across the internet.

By the mid-2010s, dedicated creepypasta websites such asBegan to emerge, providing a centralized platform for users to post, read, and share these stories. This encouraged more writers to contribute and helped formalize the genre. These platforms allowed for better organization and easier access to a vast collection of creepypasta stories, fostering a community of horror enthusiasts and creators.

Cultural Impact

Creepypasta has had a significant cultural impact, influencing various forms of media, including:

Video Games TV Series and Films Literature Podcasts YouTube Channels and Vlogs

For instance, the Slender Man character has been used in horror film Culture of Fear (2013) and video games, such as The Abandoned (2018) and Copypasta (2022).

Creepypasta has also spawned a subculture of creators, including:

YouTube creators who narrate and discuss creepypasta stories Illustrators and artists who create visuals for these narratives Game developers who use creepypasta as inspiration for their games

Overall, creepypasta reflects the collaborative and evolving nature of internet storytelling, blending traditional horror elements with modern digital culture.

The term creepypasta has become a catch-all for horror stories and images that are shared and spread through online forums and communities. It reflects the way that horror stories are created, shared, and evolved in the digital age.