Are online fandoms really that toxic? Fans say it’s more complicated than that

From BTS ARMY to Swifties, some fandoms have become synonymous with toxic behaviour. But fans say their reputations are shaped just as much by competition, social media and internet culture as by the communities themselves. In his papers on fandom culture, Assoc Prof Patrick Williams from NTU’s SSS, who teaches sociology and specialises in youth subcultures and digital media, said fans are often saddled with an unfair stereotype – that they are obsessive, irrational or incapable of thinking critically.

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