On Alt TikTok, a stuffed Kermit bathed in red light swings from a ceiling fan as ominous music bellows below it. Finding community with others rejected by the mainstream is deeply rooted in LGBTQ history. Shaped by the dredges of emo culture and the heavy Dadaist influence of its millennial predecessors, Alt TikTok embodies all that is queer.Īnd it’s no wonder that many LGBTQ users find themselves on Alt TikTok queer culture has been intertwined with alternative aesthetics for decades. TikTok is notorious for its viral dances, lip synced 'acting,' and uncomfortably horny POV videos in which the user pretends to take the audience out on dates.īut on another side of the platform, which algorithmically recommends content based on each user’s preferences, is “Alt TikTok.” Also known as “Gay TikTok,” “Beans TikTok,” or “Elite TikTok,” the subsect rejects mainstream trends in favor of surreal humor and alternative aesthetics. If you haven't heard of that term before, it's probably because you're on Straight TikTok.
If you've been on TikTok long enough, you're probably familiar with Alt TikTok.
Mashable is celebrating Pride Month by exploring the modern LGBTQ world, from the people who make up the community to the spaces where they congregate, both online and off.
