Who created Slender Man? What we know about fictional character that triggered moral panic over digital technology

The eerie figure known as Slender Man has become a cultural phenomenon, weaving its way through internet lore, video games, and online storytelling. But this fictional character, born in the digital age, also sparked moral panic when linked to real-life violence, raising questions about the impact of online content on impressionable minds.

Slender Man originated in June 2009 on the comedy web forum Something Awful and was created by Eric Knudsen. A competition on the site invited users to create a modern myth designed to terrify audiences. Eric Knudsen, under the pseudonym Victor Surge, responded with two manipulated photographs from the 1980s.

In the images, a tall, faceless figure in a dark suit lurked ominously behind groups of children. Accompanying the photos was a chilling caption suggesting that the children and the photographer had mysteriously disappeared.

Knudsen’s creation was intended as a meme—a replicating idea that evolves through user contributions. His fragmented concept inspired a wave of creativity, as thousands of fans began crafting drawings, writing stories, and producing videos.

The character grew into an internet urban legend, appearing in video games and the popular YouTube series Marble Hornets, which boasts a massive following.

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The Slender Man, 2014 stabbing, and moral panic

In 2014, Slender Man became the focal point of national concern when Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, two 12-year-old girls from Wisconsin, lured their friend Payton Leutner into the woods to play hide-and-seek and stabbed her 19 times.

They later claimed they committed the crime to appease Slender Man, whom they believed to be real. Leutner miraculously survived the attack.

When they were brought to the police station for questioning, here's a part of Morgan Geyser's questioning:

"Detective: So did you guys talk about doing this beforehand? Morgan: Anissa told me we had to. Detective: Why. Morgan: because she said he'd kill our families. Detective: Who's he? Morgan: Um, a man. I didn't know him. But Anissa knew him."

In her questioning, Anissa Weier said:

"There's this website called The Creepypasta Wiki. It's full of like horror stories that are purposely meant to scare you. And there is one of them called Slender Man."

When asked to describe Slender Man, Morgan and Anissa told the respective detectives:

"He's um... He's this tall faceless man who preys on children. At his own will he can like explode tendrils from his back... and, like, strangle his victims. From what the Creepypastaiwiiki said, he targets the children most. "

The case highlighted the potential dangers of unchecked internet access for young and vulnerable users. Slender Man, initially a creative outlet and fictional figure, was suddenly implicated in real-world violence. This led to a broader moral panic, with critics blaming the character and the internet culture that fostered his mythos.

As reported in an article on BBC News, experts caution against vilifying Slender Man or similar fictional characters. As Tom McKean, a folklore research fellow at Aberdeen University put it:

“Slender Man is definitely not the problem. Clearly, there are people who are trying to blame this figure. It’s becoming a moral panic, with people suggesting Slender Man is inspiring people to murder. It’s definitely a mistake to target Slender Man or any of these creations. It’s important for all of us to be aware of what children are doing and try to provide a context for interpretation.”

Slender Man remains a testament to the power of collective storytelling in the digital age. However, his association with violence serves as a reminder of the complexities and responsibilities that come with creating and consuming internet culture.