An E-Boy (short for "electronic boy") is a member of a youth subculture that emerged in the late 2010s and was popularized on the social media platform TikTok. The aesthetic is defined by its fusion of elements from various earlier subcultures, including 1990s and 2000s emo , scene , pop-punk, and skater styles, reinterpreted for an online context. E-Boys are characterized by a distinct fashion sense, specific grooming habits, music tastes (primarily emo rap , indie, and beedroom pop) and an online persona often cultivated primarily through short-form video content.

The E-Boy style is a composite of several different aesthetic markers from previous youth movements. It frequently incorporates baggy streetwear and grunge -inspired clothing, such as oversized t-shirts layered over long-sleeved striped shirts. A prominent feature of the aesthetic is the heavy use of chains, including wallet chains and padlock necklaces. This layering of different styles, mixing elements once associated with distinct groups like "sporty" and " Goth ," is a defining aspect of the subculture's eclectic nature.

Grooming is central to the E-Boy look. The most recognizable hairstyle is curtained hair parted in the middle, often dyed, which takes influence from 1990s actors and modern K-pop artists. Other common features include chipped black nail polish and silver jewelry, particularly dangly cross earrings. The overall look often presents a performatively sad or sensitive persona, which is contrasted by a well-kept appearance.

As a digitally native subculture, the E-Boy identity is primarily expressed and disseminated through online platforms, most notably TikTok. The content created by E-Boys often involves lip-syncing, short skits, or fashion transitions set to music. Certain mannerisms became associated with the subculture, such as rolling the eyes back into the head or sticking the tongue out, the latter being a riff on the Japanese anime expression known as ahegao . These expressions are part of a broader performance that can be simultaneously jarring and pouting, influenced by figures like musician Billie Eilish, who is considered an icon for both the E-Boy and E-Girl aesthetics.

The subculture's identity is intertwined with its existence on the internet, which distinguishes it from earlier youth movements that were rooted in physical communities and local music scenes. The E-Boy phenomenon highlights how style and identity can be formed and shared in a digital space, often detached from the socioeconomic contexts that defined subcultures of the past.

The musical tastes associated with the E-Boy subculture are eclectic, reflecting the aesthetic's blended nature. It draws from the legacy of emo rap artists like the late Lil Peep, as well as indie and bedroom pop acts such as Joji, Rex Orange County, and Clairo. They favor introspective and melancholic music, fitting the " Sadboi " element of the E-Boy persona.