Oh, we can argue semantics forever, but that'll do nothing against the evolution of language and shifting public perception.
But apparently, as you've shown, the best thing to do is to do nothing and watch as the term ARG gets subverted by talentless hacks. It's not language evolution, it's language degradation, or a violent revolution. That term always had a very specific term since the very beginning, and what's happening to it right now is a lot like how the troon crowd redefined English language in the span of a few years to further their agenda. It's not natural, by being apathetic to it you're part of the problem, fuck you.
If you're not completely brain rotten by constantly scrolling TikTok/Shorts that can only be satisfied by an endless stream of skibidi toilet pop pop stimming bullshit, look at true ARG's. A few examples: Halo 2's I Love Bees ARG, Nine Inch Nails' Year Zero ARG, Valve's Meet the Pyro and Mann vs Machine ARG.
Hell, you want a modern example that's also Internet horror related because everything I mentioned is "old", therefore "bad"? Anomidae's Interloper ARG, it's fresh and still ongoing. They are vastly superior to Internet horror series because the creator lays out a puzzle that the viewers have to solve, it's engaging, it's creative, and it creates a better connection between the viewer and the artist.
@Puff is 100% right. ARG is participatory, it's an unique, one-of-a-kind art form that those YouTube videos and Reddit stories aren't. Unless you don't engage your audience in some kind of puzzle hunt, it's not an ARG and you should never use that label for your garbage. Wendigoon is a gigantic faggot for continuing this to happen, and so are you.
