The term “White Card,” traditionally associated as a colloquial term for disability identification and sometimes used derogatorily, is now hijacked by Gen-Alpha influencers as a tool for attention-seeking behaviour.
A recent trend initiated by the “White Card Alliance” included members stripping their clothes and waving them around in public areas, such as MTR trains, whilst singing “Tinted Windows,” a song by Kaho Hung.
The act, dubbed “finging clothes” (lit. flinging or jiggling clothes) has gone viral as alliance members frequently post such videos online.
Kaho Hung has repeatedly condemned the misuse of his song for such antics, urging fans against “finging clothes” in public interviews.
Cheung Wai Ching, a 23-year-old permanent disability card holder, also criticised the trend. “Using the term ‘white card’ as an excuse for disruptive behaviour is plainly incorrect,” Cheung said. “Those people are simply attention seekers.”
It would seem the song has had far-reaching consequences, however, as youths in cosplay attending a STEM and anime event at Yuen Long Town Hall Community Centre on March 9 had knocked over and destroyed a panda sculpture on the rooftop while singing “Tinted Windows” and taking pictures.
The youths argued with each other over the responsibility for destroying the sculpture, with one shouting, “It’s none of my business! I really had nothing to do with it.”
They then resumed bantering with each other “in character” and continued taking photos and videos or doing “Tik-Tok dances,” whilst avoiding taking responsibility for the matter or reporting it to a member of staff.
A staff member at Yuen Long Town Hall Community Centre stated that they would not be pursuing compensation for the damages.
This is not the first time youths have crossed the line at such events.
Youths have reportedly dressed in military fatigues and German Wehrmacht uniforms during anime and cosplay events, putting into question the acceptability of such behaviours, when it is especially illegal in some cities and countries.
These figures remain present throughout different hobbyist events in Hong Kong, unchallenged by organisers and attendees alike, even interviewed by local media organisations.
Marcus Chan, a frequent social media user and self-proclaimed “menace to society with a PhD in yappology,” believes the internet is to blame for such behaviour. “The ‘problematic kids’ were the ‘iPad kids’ a few years ago, exposed to the internet and neglected by parents,” Chan said.
Internationally, social media influencers like streamer Ramsey “Johnny Somali” Khalid Ismael have also touched on similar matters.
Ismael has repeatedly stirred controversy in Japan, Israel, and South Korea as a self-proclaimed “internet troll,” causing provocative behaviour by tugging on respective regions’ intricate matters and is currently held in South Korea amidst a guilty plea, facing multiple public order charges.
YouTube content creator and Twitch streamer Jonathan Cluff gave his thoughts about such attention-seeking behaviour, stating, “When attention is so easily commodified it shouldn’t be surprising that people will debase themselves or others for it. It’s a new currency that people are quick to sell out for.”
Apart from activities instigated by the White Card Alliance, the youth has also called a place home for their get-together amidst further contention.
The Kwun Tong Promenade, since the days of New Year or festive celebrations, has been the hotspot for large gatherings of youths, particularly during weekends, and is sometimes referred to as “Lan Kwai Fong 2.0.”
The 4.13-hectare park sees underaged individuals holding “free hug” or “free kiss” signs, with some disappearing to the disabled toilet resulting in condoms strewn around inside as seen on videos posted on Threads and Instagram.
Police have heightened patrol and enforcement in the area in recent months, with notices of closed-circuit surveillance also posted throughout the park and some officers conducting stop-and-searches at night.
A YouTuber recently garnered 800k views by challenging themselves to get as many kisses and hugs as possible while interviewing participants in the park on New Year’s Day.
Solicitor Maksymilian Jackowski noted that such actions could have legal consequences, including public order or indecency charges carrying a potential 7-year sentence.
Despite the controversy, many regular users of the Kwun Tong Promenade, such as joggers, dog walkers, and short-form content creators, continue to use the park without issue on weekdays and weekends alike.
“Well, to be frank. We cannot deny the fact that the White Card Alliance has gained its own popularity, but actually, most people think they are weird and doing stupid acts,” says Niko Tan, a freelancer working in Kwun Tong. “Kids in Kwun Tong Promenade are starting to imitate the White Card Alliance and act rudely or outrageously,” Tan observed.
An adolescent couple drinking beer by the promenade has declined to comment on the recent activity, stating, “We wouldn’t know much about it.”
18-year-old Megan Wong, whilst filming short-form videos, downplayed the alliance’s impact, saying, “It’s just adolescents being adolescents. I believe people have the conscience not to do what they’re not supposed to.” However, Wong’s cameraperson, Tracy Ip, affirmed they would speak up against disruptive behaviour if they encountered it.
Summing up the situation, Marcus Chan remarked, “Before, they sucked on electronic pacifiers. Now, they suck on something else. The only thing that changed was that they grew up.”
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