Slender Man was created on the Something Awful internet forum by user Eric Knudsen (also known as Victor Surge) as part of a paranormal image editing contest.
The Slender Man character rapidly gained popularity through various internet forums, blogs, and creepypasta stories, evolving through collaborative storytelling.
'Slender: The Eight Pages,' an indie horror video game featuring the Slender Man character, was released by Parsec Productions, increasing public awareness.
Two 12-year-old girls in Waukesha, Wisconsin, stabbed a classmate, claiming they did it to appease Slender Man, bringing serious real-world consequences to the mythos.