AFright

AFright is a term that has emerged in online discourse, particularly within communities discussing horror fiction, games, and cinema. It is a portmanteau of "AFK," meaning "away from keyboard," and "fright," referring to a scare or moment of fear. The term describes a situation where a player or viewer experiences a jump scare or other frightening event while they are not actively engaged with the game or media, often due to being momentarily distracted or having stepped away from their device.

The concept of AFright highlights the immersive nature of modern horror content and the unexpected ways it can impact audiences. It can occur in video games where a sudden enemy appearance or environmental shift catches a player off guard, or in films and series where a shocking scene unfolds while the viewer is momentarily looking away or attending to something else. This phenomenon can lead to a heightened sense of surprise and, for some, an amplified feeling of fear due to the unexpected nature of the experience.

Discussions around AFright often center on the effectiveness of jump scares and the ways in which creators can leverage audience inattention to create memorable and startling moments. Some find it a humorous or relatable aspect of consuming horror, while others may find it frustrating if it leads to missing crucial plot points or game mechanics. The term serves as a concise way to describe a specific type of fright experienced in a digital or media-consumption context.