Modern Witchcraft Trends Surge Across Social Media
The practice of witchcraft is gaining visibility and participants as online communities expand and political rhetoric shifts.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Paranormal
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Modern witchcraft is seeing a surge in popularity across the United States as practitioners turn to ritual and magic for social resistance. Content tagged under the movement has amassed more than 30 billion views on TikTok, reflecting a significant rise in digital engagement.
Why it matters
Practitioners often turn to magic as a form of social resistance against oppression and as a means to regain a sense of control during periods of personal or societal helplessness. These rituals, which frequently involve the use of altars for deity communication, have increasingly entered the mainstream political discourse.
Digital interest in the practice is substantial, evidenced by more than 30 billion views on TikTok. Individual transactions also highlight the trend, with users paying as much as $7.99 for custom curse services.
The players
Ted Cruz
Ted Cruz is a United States Senator who recently cited occult practices in his commentary on election performance.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk is a prominent technology entrepreneur who was the subject of a paid curse during the 2024 election cycle.
Etsy
Etsy is an e-commerce platform that has implemented policies to restrict the sale of metaphysical services.
The details
While the movement grows online, major retail platforms are navigating the trade of metaphysical services. Etsy has taken steps to remove practitioners from its marketplace in early 2026, building upon a 2015 ban on the sale of hexes and spells.
Timeline
Etsy banned the sale of hexes and spells in 2015.
Witchcraft emerged as a form of social resistance in 2016.
A user paid $7.99 to curse Elon Musk in 2024.
Etsy launched a removal of practitioners in early 2026.
Ted Cruz blamed witches for midterm polling on Oct. 17, 2026.
Culture Shift
The rise of the #babywitch movement highlights how social media algorithms influence the adoption of alternative belief systems in the modern era. This trend represents a broader societal shift where digital platforms provide the infrastructure for counter-cultural movements to organize.
Consumers engaging with these trends may find fewer commercial outlets for spiritual services as online platforms tighten their marketplace rules. Practitioners are also increasingly navigating the social and political attention directed at their community rituals.
The takeaway
Witchcraft has evolved from a private spiritual practice into a highly visible component of modern digital and political culture. Readers interested in this movement should be aware of the changing policies regarding the commercialization of spiritual services on major retail platforms.
Further reading
For a deeper look into this phenomenon, explore the Paranormal section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Province.
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Do you view the rise of modern witchcraft as a meaningful spiritual practice?
