The Liminal Spaces Phenomenon: A Comprehensive Investigation into Internet Urban Mythology and Dimensional Folklore

July 29, 2025 jaipo

This report examines the emergence and evolution of liminal spaces as a cultural phenomenon within internet communities, tracing the interconnected web of urban myths, creepypastas, and alleged dimensional travel experiences that have captivated millions across social media platforms. From the foundational creation of Slender Man to the viral spread of The Backrooms and reality shifting communities, these phenomena represent a new form of digital folklore that blurs the boundaries between fiction, belief, and perceived reality.

Origins and Theoretical Framework of Liminal Spaces

Liminal spaces fundamentally represent transitional or threshold areas that exist between defined states or locations. The term “liminal” derives from the Latin “limen,” meaning threshold, and was originally conceptualized in anthropological contexts to describe ritual spaces and temporal transitions ^[1]. In digital culture, this concept has evolved to encompass physical spaces that evoke feelings of unease, nostalgia, and otherworldliness—typically empty or abandoned areas that suggest recent human presence but lack current occupancy.

An empty, fluorescent-lit hallway exemplifying the eerie liminal space aesthetic often featured in urban myth and internet folklore.

The psychological appeal of liminal spaces stems from their ability to trigger what researchers call “uncanny familiarity”—spaces that appear simultaneously recognizable and alien ^[1]. These environments often feature characteristics such as fluorescent lighting, dated architectural elements, repetitive patterns, and an absence of human activity that creates an atmosphere of suspended time and reality.

The phenomenon gained significant traction on internet platforms between 2018-2019, particularly on Reddit communities like r/LiminalSpace, Instagram accounts dedicated to “liminal aesthetics,” and TikTok hashtags that accumulated millions of views ^[2]. The #liminalspaces hashtag on TikTok has garnered nearly 100 million views, demonstrating the widespread cultural resonance of these uncanny architectural spaces ^[3].

The Slender Man Genesis: Patient Zero of Digital Folklore

The modern liminal spaces phenomenon traces many of its roots to the creation of Slender Man on June 8, 2009, by Eric Knudsen (username “Victor Surge”) on the Something Awful forums ^[4]^[5]. This creation represents a watershed moment in internet culture, as it was the first entirely digital urban legend designed specifically for viral propagation across online communities.

A tall, slender figure resembling Slender Man stands ominously in a dark forest with tentacle-like appendages.

Knudsen’s contribution to a “Create Paranormal Images” Photoshop contest consisted of two manipulated black-and-white photographs showing a tall, thin, faceless figure in a dark suit lurking behind groups of children ^[4]^[6]. The accompanying fictional captions described missing children and photographers, establishing the foundational mythology:

“We didn’t want to go, we didn’t want to kill them, but its persistent silence and outstretched arms horrified and comforted us at the same time… — 1983, photographer unknown, presumed dead.”^[7]

Collaborative Mythology Building

What distinguished Slender Man from previous urban legends was its open-source development model^[8]. Within days of the original posting, other Something Awful users began contributing additional “evidence”—doctored photographs, fictional witness accounts, and historical documents that retroactively inserted the entity into human history ^[9]^[10]. This collaborative approach represented a fundamental shift in folklore creation, moving from traditional oral transmission to real-time digital co-creation.

The character quickly evolved beyond Knudsen’s initial conception, acquiring abilities such as:

Telepathic influence and mind control
Dimensional manipulation and teleportation
Induction of “Slender Sickness” (coughing, paranoia, memory loss)
Selective visibility (appearing only to certain individuals)
Technological interference with recording equipment

Real-World Consequences

The transition from digital fiction to perceived reality became tragically evident in May 2014 with the Waukesha stabbing incident, where two 12-year-old girls attacked a classmate, claiming they needed to kill her to appease Slender Man ^[5]^[11]. This event marked a crucial inflection point, demonstrating how internet-born mythologies could manifest in physical violence and genuine belief systems among vulnerable populations.

Marble Hornets: The Foundational Alternate Reality Experience

Marble Hornets premiered on YouTube just 10 days after Slender Man’s creation, representing the first major transmedia expansion of the mythology ^[12]^[13]. Created by Troy Wagner and Joseph DeLage, the series pioneered what would become known as “analog horror”—a genre characterized by found footage aesthetics, cryptic storytelling, and interactive audience engagement.

Narrative Structure and Innovation

The series followed Jay Merrick’s investigation into mysterious tapes from an abandoned student film project, gradually revealing the presence of “The Operator” (the series’ name for Slender Man)^[12]^[14]. Key innovations included:

Found footage realism: Shot on consumer-grade equipment to enhance authenticity
Transmedia storytelling: Companion videos posted by the mysterious “totheark” channel
Real-time audience interaction: Characters responded to viewer comments and theories
Psychological horror focus: Emphasized mental deterioration over physical threats

Cultural Impact and Legacy

Marble Hornets accumulated over 55 million views across its run from 2009-2014, spawning numerous imitators including EverymanHYBRID, TribeTwelve, and dozens of other “Slenderverse” series ^[12]^[13]. The series established many conventions that continue to influence modern analog horror creators, including:

Gradual revelation through fragmented narrative
Use of symbolic imagery (particularly the “Operator Symbol”)
Protagonist unreliability and memory loss
Ambiguous endings that resist clear resolution

The Backrooms: From Creepypasta to Cultural Phenomenon

Original 4chan Genesis

On May 12, 2019, an anonymous user posted what would become the foundational Backrooms creepypasta to 4chan’s /x/ paranormal board ^[15]^[16]. The post described an infinite expanse of yellow rooms accessible by “no-clipping” out of reality—a gaming term referring to passing through solid barriers due to programming glitches:

“If you’re not careful and you noclip out of reality in the wrong areas, you’ll end up in the Backrooms, where it’s nothing but the stink of old moist carpet, the madness of mono-yellow, the endless background noise of fluorescent lights at maximum hum-buzz, and approximately six hundred million square miles of randomly segmented empty rooms to be trapped in.”^[15]^[3]

A fisheye view of the Backrooms liminal space with yellow carpets and maze-like office corridors.

Collaborative Expansion and Level System

Unlike Slender Man’s gradual evolution, The Backrooms experienced rapid systematic expansion through dedicated wikis and Reddit communities ^[15]^[17]. Fans developed an elaborate multilevel system:

Level 0: The original yellow office maze
Level 1: Industrial concrete halls with more resources
Level 2: Dark maintenance tunnels with dangerous entities
Levels 3+: Increasingly exotic and dangerous environments

This systematic approach to worldbuilding represented a maturation of collaborative internet storytelling, with formal documentation systems, consistent rules, and quality control mechanisms ^[18]^[19].

An eerie, endless maze of yellow-walled rooms and fluorescent lights representing The Backrooms urban myth.

Kane Pixels and Mainstream Recognition

The phenomenon achieved mainstream recognition through Kane Parsons’ (Kane Pixels) YouTube series beginning in January 2022 ^[20]^[21]. His 3D-animated found footage videos introduced:

Async Corporation: A fictional research company studying the Backrooms
Scientific framework: Treating the Backrooms as a discoverable phenomenon
High production values: Professional-quality CGI and sound design
Narrative coherence: A planned storyline rather than random exploration

The series’ first video garnered over 67 million views, leading to a film adaptation deal with A24 Studios ^[20]^[22]. This represents the first instance of internet-born liminal space mythology achieving Hollywood recognition.

Reality Shifting and Dimensional Travel Communities

Emergence During COVID-19

Reality shifting emerged as a widespread practice during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among Gen Z users on TikTok ^[23]^[24]. The phenomenon involves claimed consciousness transfer to “desired realities” (DRs) through meditation, visualization, and specific induction techniques ^[23]^[25]. Popular destinations include:

Hogwarts: Harry Potter universe scenarios
Marvel/DC: Superhero universe experiences
Anime worlds: Particularly My Hero Academia and Attack on Titan
Historical periods: Victorian England, medieval fantasy settings
Custom realities: Personally designed ideal worlds

Psychological and Sociological Factors

Research suggests reality shifting serves multiple psychological functions during periods of social isolation and uncertainty ^[23]^[24]:

Control restoration: Providing agency in an unpredictable world
Social connection: Parasocial relationships with fictional characters
Identity exploration: Experimenting with alternate selves
Escapism: Temporary relief from challenging circumstances

The practice demonstrates significant overlap with established psychological phenomena including lucid dreaming, maladaptive daydreaming, dissociation, and hypnotic states ^[23]^[24]. However, practitioners often assert the literal reality of their experiences, distinguishing it from acknowledged fantasy or visualization exercises.

Community Structure and Methods

Reality shifting communities have developed sophisticated methodologies and support systems ^[26]^[27]:

Popular Methods:

Raven Method: Lying in starfish position while repeating affirmations
Julia Method: Counting to 100 while visualizing the desired reality
Alice in Wonderland Method: Visualizing following a character down a rabbit hole
Pillow Method: Placing written intentions under pillows before sleep

Community Features:

Detailed “scripting” documents describing desired reality parameters
Experience sharing and validation support
Troubleshooting guides for “shifting blocks”
Safety protocols and “safe words” for emergency return

Internet Rituals and Portal Games

Digital Occultism and Technomancy

The intersection of liminal spaces and internet ritual culture has produced numerous alleged methods for accessing alternate dimensions or supernatural entities ^[28]^[29]. These “digital rituals” typically combine traditional occult elements with modern technology:

Ancient stone doorway glowing with bright light, symbolizing a mysterious dimensional portal or liminal space.

Common Ritual Components:

Technology integration: Specific apps, websites, or digital interfaces
Timing requirements: 3:33 AM, midnight, or other “witching hours”
Physical elements: Candles, mirrors, salt circles, religious objects
Invocation methods: Repetitive phrases, numerical sequences, or symbolic actions

Notable Ritual Categories

Portal Opening Games:

The Elevator Game: Korean urban legend involving specific elevator button sequences
One Man Tag/Hitori Kakurenbo: Japanese ritual using possessed dolls
The Midnight Game: Summoning and evading a demonic entity
Three Kings Ritual: Mirror-based dimensional viewing procedure

Summoning Rituals:

The Holders Series: Collecting mystical objects from otherworldly locations
Tulpa Creation: Manifesting thoughtform entities through concentration
Shadow People Contact: Attempting communication with interdimensional beings
Black Phone Ritual: Using modified rotary phones for otherworld communication

Fantasy stone portal glowing with cosmic light representing a gateway to another dimension or unknown realm.

SCP Foundation and Anomalous Science

The SCP Foundation collaborative fiction project has significantly influenced portal and dimensional travel narratives ^[30]^[31]. Key contributions include:

Scientific documentation style: Clinical descriptions of anomalous phenomena
Containment protocols: Systematic approaches to managing supernatural threats
Cross-dimensional exploration: Detailed accounts of alternate reality expeditions
Object classifications: Standardized danger and utility assessments

Notable SCP entries relevant to dimensional travel include SCP-259 (The Weisenglass Spiral portal generator) and SCP-1278 (photograph-based dimensional gateways)^[30]^[31]. These entries provide technical frameworks that influence how communities conceptualize interdimensional travel mechanics.

Technological Convergence and Platform Evolution

Social Media Ecosystem Development

The liminal spaces phenomenon demonstrates how modern internet architecture facilitates rapid mythology propagation across platforms:

Platform-Specific Adaptations:

4chan: Anonymous collaborative worldbuilding and image sharing
Reddit: Systematic documentation and community organization
TikTok: Short-form visual content and algorithmic discovery
YouTube: Long-form narrative content and production quality escalation
Discord: Real-time community interaction and private group formation
Wikidot/Fandom: Comprehensive documentation and canonical establishment

Algorithmic Amplification

The role of recommendation algorithms in spreading liminal space content cannot be understated. TikTok’s algorithm, in particular, has created feedback loops that rapidly expose users to increasingly niche variations of the aesthetic ^[3]. This has led to the emergence of related microgenres including:

Dreamcore: Surreal, dream-like imagery with nostalgic elements
Weirdcore: Deliberately unsettling combinations of familiar objects
Kidcore: Childhood nostalgia mixed with subtle uncanniness
Vaporwave: Retro-futuristic aesthetics with liminal undertones

An empty hallway illuminated by fluorescent lights exemplifying the liminal space aesthetic commonly linked to urban myths and internet legends.

Psychological and Anthropological Analysis

Collective Unconscious and Digital Shamanism

The widespread resonance of liminal spaces suggests these phenomena tap into fundamental psychological structures. Carl Jung’s concept of the collective unconscious offers one explanatory framework, with liminal spaces functioning as digital manifestations of universal threshold experiences ^[1].

Archetypal Elements:

The Threshold Guardian: Slender Man as protective/threatening liminal entity
The Maze: Backrooms as psychological navigation challenge
The Vision Quest: Reality shifting as digital shamanic journey
The Sacred Space: Liminal areas as modern ritual environments

Modern Folklore Transmission

These phenomena represent evolution in folklore transmission methods, moving from oral tradition through print media to digital collaborative creation ^[8]. Key characteristics of digital folklore include:

Rapid mutation: Stories evolve quickly through community iteration
Multimedia integration: Combining text, images, video, and audio
Interactive participation: Audiences become co-creators rather than passive recipients
Persistent documentation: Digital archives preserve developmental stages
Global reach: Instant worldwide distribution and cultural cross-pollination

Network Analysis and Interconnections

Hierarchical Evolution of Liminal Space and Urban Myth Phenomena

The relationship between various liminal space phenomena demonstrates a complex network of influence and cross-pollination. The hierarchical evolution shows how early internet culture foundations spawned multiple distinct but related branches of digital folklore.

Primary Influence Pathways:

Something Awful → Slender Man → Marble Hornets → ARG Culture
4chan → Backrooms → Kane Pixels → Mainstream Media
TikTok → Reality Shifting → Dimensional Travel Communities
Reddit → Collaborative Worldbuilding → Wiki Documentation

These pathways demonstrate how platform-specific cultures create distinct evolutionary pressures that shape mythology development in different directions while maintaining core thematic elements.

Contemporary Developments and Future Trajectories

Mainstream Media Integration

The increasing recognition of internet-born liminal space mythology by traditional media represents a significant cultural shift. Recent developments include:

A24 Studios announcing The Backrooms film adaptation^[22]
Netflix developing Slender Man documentary content
Academic research into digital folklore and online mythology^[23]^[24]
Museum exhibitions featuring liminal space aesthetics and internet culture

Emerging Phenomena

New variations of liminal space mythology continue to emerge:

Recent Trends:

Poolrooms: Flooded indoor pool complexes with eerie lighting
The Complex: Industrial maze environments with mechanical themes
Skyways: Elevated bridge networks between buildings
Transit Liminal: Airport, train station, and highway rest stop aesthetics

Technological Implications

Advancing virtual and augmented reality technologies may fundamentally alter how individuals experience liminal spaces. Early VR implementations of Backrooms environments have demonstrated the potential for truly immersive liminal experiences that blur the boundary between digital exploration and perceived reality ^[32].

An empty, fluorescent-lit hallway depicting the eerie and unsettling atmosphere typical of liminal spaces.

Critical Evidence Assessment

From an investigative perspective, the liminal spaces phenomenon presents several categories of evidence that require careful evaluation:

Documentary Evidence:

Extensive digital archives preserving developmental history
Creator testimonials and development process documentation
Academic research validating psychological and social impacts
Verifiable cultural influence metrics (view counts, media coverage)

Experiential Claims:

Reality shifting testimonials (subjective, unverifiable)
Dimensional travel reports (lacking objective confirmation)
Supernatural encounter narratives (anecdotal evidence only)
Portal ritual effectiveness claims (no reproducible results)

Physical Evidence:

Original Backrooms photograph traced to Oshkosh, Wisconsin hobby store^[16]^[33]
Slender Man creation definitively attributed to Eric Knudsen
Marble Hornets production documented through creator interviews
No verifiable evidence for literal dimensional travel or supernatural entities

Implications for Digital Culture Research

The liminal spaces phenomenon demonstrates several crucial aspects of contemporary digital culture:

Cultural Significance:

New forms of collaborative creativity and storytelling
Evolution of folklore transmission in digital environments
Psychological coping mechanisms for modern social isolation
Blurring boundaries between fiction and perceived reality

Methodological Considerations:

Importance of preserving digital cultural artifacts
Need for interdisciplinary approaches combining psychology, anthropology, and media studies
Challenges in studying ephemeral online communities
Ethical considerations in researching vulnerable populations

Empty yellow hallway showcasing the liminal spaces aesthetic with vintage décor and eerie lighting.

Conclusion

The liminal spaces phenomenon represents a fascinating convergence of psychological predisposition, technological capability, and cultural creativity. From Slender Man’s creation in 2009 to The Backrooms’ mainstream recognition in 2024, these interconnected mythologies demonstrate how internet communities can rapidly develop sophisticated folklore systems that compete with traditional cultural narratives for psychological engagement.

For investigators, these phenomena offer rich material for evidence-based analysis precisely because they exist at the intersection of verifiable cultural artifacts and unsubstantiated supernatural claims. The documented origins and evolution of these mythologies provide clear examples of how digital folklore develops, while the experiential claims surrounding dimensional travel and portal rituals offer opportunities to examine the relationship between belief, community, and perceived reality.

The continuing evolution of liminal spaces mythology suggests this phenomenon will remain a significant aspect of internet culture, potentially expanding further as virtual and augmented reality technologies create new possibilities for immersive liminal experiences. Understanding these cultural developments provides crucial insight into how modern communities create meaning, navigate uncertainty, and construct shared mythological frameworks in an increasingly digital world.

As these phenomena continue to evolve and achieve mainstream recognition, they serve as compelling case studies in the power of collaborative digital storytelling to create genuinely influential cultural artifacts that transcend their fictional origins to impact real-world behavior, media production, and academic research. The liminal spaces phenomenon ultimately demonstrates that in the digital age, the boundary between “real” and “fictional” mythology may be far more permeable than previously understood.

Sgt Grumpy

Sgt Grumpy

The Liminal Spaces Phenomenon: A Comprehensive Investigation into Internet Urban Mythology and Dimensional Folklore

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