Alt subculture
In 2020, Alt TikTok was one of many subcultural communities to emerge out of TikTok, alongside Deep TikTok (aka DeepTok) and Flop TikTok (aka Floptok). [7] The alt kid subculture emerged out of Alt TikTok primarily amongst young Gen Z women, influenced by online fashion and aesthetics penned by e-girls and e-boys, the movement was accelerated by the COVID-19 lockdowns, while the subculture itself stood in opposition to mainstream "Straight TikTok" and the VSCO girl movement, primarily adopting aspects of queer and alternative culture. [13] [14] [4] [15]
While the phrase might imply a general association with alternative fashion or alternative culture, it is more accurately understood as a specific internet-driven outgrowth of online aesthetic youth subcultures like e-girls and e-boys, the alt subculture's visual style blended influences from goth, punk, emo, and grunge, often expressed through fashion, music taste, and online presence. [16] [17] [18]
Style and music
The style of alt-girls is reminiscent of a myriad of previous alternative fashion trends, often blending these influences with online aesthetics. [19] [3] In 2020, TikTok alt-girls were teens ranged from 13-16, who tend to wear friendship bracelets, goth boots and Doc martens, bunny and frog hats, piercings, split-dyed hair as well as iconography lifted from Monster Energy and Hello Kitty. [20] [19] Some alt-girls displayed a love of cosplay. [21] [22] While drawing from Japanese anime and manga particularly Danganronpa and Haikyu!! which originally gained traction on the app through Anime TikTok (aka Anitok).[ citation needed ]
Alt TikTok has been noted for being primarily influenced by queer and alternative culture, positioning itself in contrast to "Straight TikTok" that focused on mainstream dances and music. [13] [23] Alt kids frequently intersected with the e-girls and e-boys subculture, in terms of music, style, visual media and aesthetics.
Additionally, several musicians and artists were closely associated with the alt subculture, particularly those in the hyperpop scene. While alt tiktok users became important in the wider popularization of artists like 100 gecs. [24] Notable prominent artists associated with alt tiktok included Girl in Red, [6] Freddie Dredd, [12] Yungster Jack, David Shawty, [1] [25] WHOKILLEDXIX, and 645AR. Alongside YouTubers turned musicians such as Wilbur Soot's "I’m in Love With an E‐Girl" and Corpse Husband's "E-Girls Are Ruining My Life!".