Your main account is level 80. Your alt is level 12. Alt is short for "alternative." In gaming, it is a second character or account. In social media, it is a secondary profile, often anonymous. People make alts for many reasons. To try a different class. To play with lower-ranked friends. To post opinions they would not share under their real name. To troll. To escape harassment.

Alt culture is controversial. An alt can be a fresh start or a mask. In politics, alt accounts spread misinformation. In fandoms, alts amplify praise. In games, smurfs are a type of alt used to stomp beginners. Platforms struggle to police them. IP bans catch some. VPNs evade others.

Types of alts

• Smurf: a high-skill player on a new account.
• Bank alt: a character used only for storage.
• Finsta: a fake Instagram for close friends.
• Sockpuppet: an account controlled by someone pretending to be someone else.

The line between alt and identity is blurry. For some, an alt is a costume. For others, it is a truer self. The internet allows both. It also allows deception. The word carries no moral judgment on its own. The behavior behind it does.