The narrative phase someone goes through where gatekeeping becomes their whole thing — usually observed from the outside by people watching a fan or hobbyist slowly turn into a gatekeeper over time. A gatekeep arc is often triggered by a beloved thing going viral or mainstream, making the person increasingly protective and elitist. Eventually most people come out the other side and chill out, making the full arc something others can clock and discuss.
He's deep in his gatekeep arc right now — new fans show up and he starts interrogating them like it's an audition.
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Viral internet speak — memes, ratios, main-character moments, and the algospeak of every platform from Twitter to Reddit to TikTok comment sections.
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