Surf Dracula is a prime example of internet 'phantom lore' that originated from a 2021 tweet by user @Skoog. The post jokingly referenced the concept of a surfing vampire as if it were a long-standing pop culture trope, despite no such specific character existing previously. The idea quickly gained a cult following on Twitter, symbolizing the internet's ability to manifest niche, absurdist icons through sheer collective imagination. Today, the meme is used to represent anything that is inexplicably cool, nonsensical, or perfectly tailored to specific subcultures, often featuring a distinct retro or gothic-tinged surf aesthetic.