On the internet there are certain spaces where fans of content creators, music artists, movies, and more gather to bond over their mutual interests. These fan spheres are called “fandoms.” Here, users meet other fans, talk to each other, and share fanworks inspired by their favorite media. Fandoms have existed online since the internet was created. They first gained popularity on sites like MySpace, Tumblr, and LiveJournal. Now, fandoms are concentrated on social media like TikTok, Instagram, and X, formerly known as Twitter.
With large gatherings of like-minded people, fandoms offer users a space to make connections. Users can befriend people from across the world, a feat that would be near-impossible without online fandoms. This kind of community is the main reason senior S. Morales is in fandoms.
“It gives me a community of people who share my similar interests, and there’s a lot of fan content for it, besides whatever canon, original stuff there is. That’s really fun to interact with and create and contribute to,” Morales said.
Fanwork is another key part of every fandom. Some of the more popular mediums are visual art, fictional writing, and video edits, all of which can be shared on social media for other fans to enjoy. Morales believes fans create these kinds of fanworks to showcase their love for the original work and the other fans in the community.
“There’s fan art, there’s fiction written about whatever some people make up, there’s fan songs or fan videos. There’s a lot of cosplays, dressing up as characters, or like fan edits of things. I think it shows the love the community has for both the content itself and for the other fans out there. Because I think, really and truly, a lot of us are doing it for the other people in this fan base. You know, I think it really fosters community, and I find that to be really special,” Morales said.
Being online can take a toll on someone’s mental health, and people in fandoms are not exempt from this. Users can get so wrapped up in internet interactions their perception of reality is warped. Junior Diana Goodman thinks people need to have an offline life if they are going to be a part of fandoms.
“I think if you really are going to be deep into fandom culture, you need to have an outside life. You need to have some other hobbies, instead of just being on your phone and posting stuff. Because, if you’re posting 24/7, if you’re posting your entire life, everything you do, it’s not healthy, and it really will make you feel bad,” Goodman said. “If you’re always worried about having to share your opinion on this, or you’re afraid that somebody else won’t agree with your opinion. Boom, suddenly, you’re like, ‘Oh no, what if I get canceled?’ And so it’s just always a negative space, and when you’re just surrounded by negativity, it does take a toll on you.”
Since being on the internet constantly can cause negative effects, some people in online fandoms look for alternative ways to find like-minded communities. Counselor Kaitlin McCool proposes school clubs as this alternative.
“I think if we don’t have a club that you’re interested in and you want to start a club that pertains to different fandoms and things like that, we would be open to allowing our students to host clubs in that way. I don’t think [there are any yet], so I think that’s even more of a reason for our students to try and start one on their own,” McCool said.
Fandoms have come a long way since their appearance on the internet. One of the biggest shifts in them occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic, in which many people, stuck at home and bored, joined fandoms for the first time. Morales noticed this has made fandoms more unpleasant than they were pre-pandemic.
“It is honestly way more toxic. I’m not sure how to describe the effect. My theory is that basically, during covid, a whole bunch of people who didn’t know fandom etiquette or weren’t previously in fandoms joined a whole bunch and weren’t willing to learn the correct proper etiquette,” Morales said. “It made fandoms kind of not as fun to be. I don’t think that was entirely healthy. I kind of miss fandom before 2020 but also, I think as time has gone on, it’s kind of waned out. It’s gotten better.”
Another thing caused by fandoms’ longevity on the internet is how it has shaped some people. Certain users who have been in online fandoms for several years have been affected by it. Sophomore Lylah Ceasar has fandoms to thank for who she is as a person.
“[I’ve been in fandoms] I would say since I was like 11. It has definitely affected the way I act and also the way I communicate with people,” Ceasar said. “At the end of the day, being in different fandoms affected me as a person and my personal growth, so I wouldn’t be who I am today if I wasn’t for fandoms.”
