The Misunderstanding and Miseducation of Social Media Fandoms (and How Fans Deserve Better)

Abstract

“The Misunderstanding and Miseducation of Social Media Fandoms (and How Fans Deserve Better)” centralizes social media fandom spaces and their influences on mainstream and popular culture; It also addresses issues regarding corporation and fandom power dynamics from above and issues regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion from within. The method of “big reading” will be used to expand what fandom is and to explain what gets overlooked. Fandom history, first and foremost, is presented to show how much of an impact it has had in popular culture and society throughout history. This also sets the stage to usher in the transition to the rise of social media and the significance of gathering fans together to celebrate and discuss their interests. Connection is also crucial to social media fandoms, as it relies on emotional attachment and access to fans’ perspectives to observe why it is initially popular After providing background information on fandom culture, its history, and its ongoing impact, the main issues begin to be addressed: the issues from the top and from within. The issues from the top discuss fandom culture’s struggle with being misunderstood, exploited, mocked, and taken advantage of by corporations and popular culture. Power dynamics among these entities are also exposed from how they deal with copyright to attempting to make a profit from fanfiction. Racism, misogyny, and the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community are issues from within, examined by explaining why they ought to be taken more seriously at a mainstream level, and the examples that demonstrate why they are harmful and the importance of implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion for marginalized groups that have been singled out, overlooked, discouraged, and silenced by mainstream fandom.