Alt Kid, also known as E-Kid, is an internet-based youth subculture and fashion style that gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic in the early 2020s. Primarily popularized on TikTok, the aesthetic is a culmination of various pre-existing alternative styles, functioning as a time capsule of the trends that defined the quarantine era's online culture. It was a short-lived trend that is sometimes revisited with "nowstalgia" by people who experienced early 2020s TikTok.
It is characterized by a collage-like approach to fashion, drawing heavily from Mallgoth, Scene, and E-Girl/E-Boy aesthetics, and is thematically linked to anime, video games, and the hyperpop music scene. One of the most stereotypical elements was the bunny hat. The term "Alt Kid" largely replaced the more gendered "E-Girl" and "E-Boy" labels to be more inclusive and to distance the community from the negative connotations that had become associated with the earlier terms.
History[]
The "Straight vs. Alt" Dichotomy[]
The Alt Kid identity was forged in direct opposition to what users termed "Straight TikTok," the platform's perceived mainstream. "Straight TikTok" was characterized by viral dances, conventionally attractive influencers, and commercially popular sounds. In contrast, the "Alt TikTok" community, from which the Alt Kid subculture emerged, was the domain for content that was considered weird, creative, and unconventional. As described by artists and observers in a 2020 Rolling Stone article, Alt TikTok was more "artsy," "punk," and highly supportive of the LGBTQ+ community, with content centered on cosplay, dramatic makeup, and experimental humor. This dynamic established the Alt Kid as part of a conscious counterculture on the app.[1]
Mainstream Crossover and Community Identity[]
Unlike the fleeting nature of many mainstream trends, Alt TikTok promoted a strong sense of community. Artists who gained popularity within the scene reported gaining legitimate, engaged fans rather than just a viral moment. This was exemplified by virtual events like the "Subculture Party" on Zoom, which provided a space for the community to connect during the pandemic. This sense of ownership led to backlash when the aesthetic began to cross over into the mainstream. When major "Straight TikTok" influencers started using popular Alt sounds, they were often met with comments from the community accusing them of co-opting a culture that was not meant for them, showing the scene's protective and distinct identity.
Industry Impact and Decline[]
The growing influence of Alt TikTok did not go unnoticed by the music industry. Industry insiders at the time compared the movement's crossover potential to that of the mid-2000s third wave emo boom that saw bands like Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance achieve mainstream success. However, as with many internet-driven microtrends, the peak of the Alt Kid aesthetic was short-lived. By mid 2022 / early 2023, it had largely faded from prominence as new online trends and aesthetics (such as the Y2K revival) took its place.
Fashion and Visuals[]
The Alt Kid fashion style is a pastiche of various alternative subcultures. A typical outfit consists of layered clothing, such as a striped long-sleeved shirt worn under an oversized graphic tee, often featuring anime characters or cartoon imagery. Bottoms include pleated skirts, shorts, or cargo pants, commonly worn over ripped tights or fishnets. This is often paired with chunky platform sneakers, Demonia boots, or Converse.
Accessories are a key component and are used to create a cluttered, personalized look. These include chains, chokers, arm warmers, kandi bracelets, and animal-themed items like cat ear headbands or the iconic bunny and frog hats with long, dangling arms. Visually, the aesthetic is heavily influenced by Japanese media, with characters from Sanrio and popular anime appearing frequently in both fashion and online posts. Energy drinks, particularly Monster Energy, also became a prominent visual motif within the community.
Culture and Lifestlye[]
Battery Acid Drink Tiktoks (2020-2021 Core)
Compilation of battery acid drink videos.
The Alt Kid subculture was a direct product of the social conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, developing almost entirely within online spaces as lockdowns restricted in-person interaction. Its cultural ecosystem was spread across several platforms with distinct roles. TikTok served as the primary stage for disseminating trends and showcasing the aesthetic, while platforms like Discord and Amino functioned as key hubs for community building, communication, and in-depth fandom discourse.
Activity within this subculture was centered on engagement with niche internet communities. Fandoms for anime, manga, K-Pop, and video games were central to its identity. Content creation was a major form of participation, with users frequently producing video edits set to popular hyperpop tracks, running fan blogs and zines, and creating memes. Virtual worlds like Minecraft and Roblox also became important social platforms, allowing participants to express the Alt Kid aesthetic through customized avatars and in-game fashion.
Several specific trends and practices served as cultural markers for the community. The use of glitter anime profile pictures became a common visual identifier online. Cosplay was also a significant component, particularly a style of over-accessorized cosplay that applied a maximalist, Decora-inspired approach to character designs, a trend especially prominent within the Danganronpa fandom. The subculture also developed its own internal meme aesthetics, such as Feralcore, which embraced chaotic humor. Memetic food and drink trends, like the creation of the "Battery Acid" concoction and the showcasing of Asian cuisine, also served as in-group signifiers of the subculture's internet-driven and cross-cultural influences.
Politics and the "Discourse Community"[]
This edit of Hello Kitty, an intellectual property valued $84.5 billion, features the "Eat The Rich" slogan. Such memes, while seemingly offering social commentary, misapply socio-political messages to commercial characters.
The Alt Kid subculture was deeply intertwined with the highly politicized online environment of the early 2020s. The community was predominantly characterized by progressive, left-wing ideologies, with strong support for movements like Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ rights. A central tenet of the subculture was the rejection of "cringe culture," a philosophy that championed unapologetic self-expression and defended niche interests against online mockery.
This political expression often manifested through a phenomenon known as the "discourse community," where users would debate morally and politically charged topics. A defining feature of this practice was the "aestheticization of politics," where serious or radical statements were juxtaposed with cute or unrelated imagery, such as anime characters or Sanrio's Hello Kitty. This community was largely composed of teenagers, leading to passionate but often uncivil discussions. The primary goal of many users seemed to be less about productive conversation and more about expressing opinions, gaining popularity, or seeking validation. This sometimes resulted in an "us vs. them" mentality and the use of "discourse" as a synonym for "drama." Memes like "Hello Kitty says ACAB" or edits of popular characters with anti-capitalist slogans became widespread.[2] This practice was criticized by some as a form of performative activism that reduced complex issues to superficial aesthetic statements.
Music[]
Musically, the subculture is inextricably linked to hyperpop and its related microgenres, such as nightcore (often called "sped up") and scenecore. Artists whose music was frequently used in TikTok videos and became anthems for the community include Mother Mother, Jazmin Bean, and Sodikken.
Artists[]
- 100 gecs
- Ashnikko
- Ayesha Erotica
- BLACKPINK
- Bo Burnham
- BTS
- Calum Bowen/bo en
- Cavetown
- Clairo
- Crystal Castles
- girl in red
- Insane Clown Posse
- Jack Stauber/Jack Stauber's Micropop
- Jazmin Bean
- Kikuo
- Laura Les
- Lemon Demon
- Le Tigre
- Lil Darkie
- Maretu
- Mitski
- Mindless Self Indulgence
- Mother Mother
- Penelope Scott
- PinkPantheress
- Poppy
- Quinn (also known as osquinn/p4rkr)
- Rebzyyx
- Ricky Montgomery
- Rojuu
- Sir Chloe
- Sodikken
- The Living Tombstone
- The Orion Experience
- TV Girl
- WHOKILLEDXIX
- Will Wood/Will Wood and The Tapeworms
- Yungster Jack & David Shawty
Songs[]
- "#BrooklynBloodPop!" by SyKo
- "all I want is you" by Rebzyyx feat. hoshie star
- "Arms Tonite" by Mother Mother
- "Baby Hotline" by Jack Stauber
- "Cigarette Ahegao" by Penelope Scott
- "Crimewave" by Crystal Castles
- "Daisy" by Ashnikko
- "Devil Town" by cavetown
- "Discord" by The Living Tombstone
- "E-Girls are Ruining My Life" by CORPSE
- "Freaks" by Surf Curse
- "Hayloft" by Mother Mother
- "Hello Kitty" by Jazmin Bean
- "help_urself" by Ezekiel
- "i don't want that many friends in the first place" by osquinn/p4rkr
- "I'm so crazy for youuu </3" by Rebzyyx
- "Line Without a Hook" by Ricky Montgomery
- "money machine" by 100 gecs
- "My Ordinary Life" by The Living Tombstone
- "NEVER MET!" by CMTEN feat. Glitch Gum
- "Not Allowed" by TV Girl
- "people eater" by Sodikken
- "Rät" by Penelope Scott
- "SugarCrash!" by ElyOtto
- "Washing Machine Heart" by Mitski
- "we fell in love in october" by girl in red
Criticism[]
The Alt Kid aesthetic has been a subject of criticism, particularly from adherents of the original 2000s Scene subculture. Due to visual similarities, the style was often mislabeled as Scene, leading to accusations of being inauthentic or "posers." This contributed to the adoption of the ironic label Posercore. As the 2020s progressed, the style also became conflated with the emerging Scenecore aesthetic, a more direct reinterpretation of Scene, causing further confusion and debate.
The catchphrase, "I'm going to commit arson," became popular during this period, derived from the "Arson Frog" meme which gained traction on TikTok in 2019.[3] The online popularity of arson as a memetic concept led to a related controversy within the E-Kid aesthetic, particularly among non-binary people seeking new gender-neutral names. Some individuals adopted names that were phonetically similar to "arson." This included the literal name 'Arson,' as well as established names from various cultures chosen for their sound, such as "Asher" (Jewish). This trend was heavily criticized for appropriating cultural names and stripping them of their context to evoke a criminal act, a practice many found distasteful. Critics often compared it to hypothetically adopting names like "Homicide" or "Fraud," arguing that it trivialized the seriousness of the crime.
Media[]
Film & Television[]
- Death Note (2006)
- Demon Slayer (2019)
- Hazbin Hotel (2019)
- Helluva Boss (2019)
- Kakegurui (2017)
- My Hero Academia (2016)
- No Matter How I Look at It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular! (2013)
- Squid Game (2021)
- Steven Universe (2013)
- Stranger Things (2016)
- The Owl House (2020)
- Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun (2020)
Video Games[]
- Among Us (2018)
- Danganronpa series (2010-2021)
- Doki Doki Literature Club (2017)
- Five Nights at Freddy's franchise (2014-2021)
- Genshin Impact (2020)
- Minecraft (2009)
- OMORI (2020)
- ROBLOX (2006)
- Sally Face (2016)
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ "Alt TikTok Is Music’s Latest Scene, and Straight TikTok Has Noticed" on rollingstone.com (Internet Archive)
- ↑ "Hello Kitty ACAB: The Aestheticization of Politics" on 34st.com
- ↑ "Arson Frog" on knowyourmeme.com