The Dark Side of Fandom and the Detrimental Effects of Pop Culture Idol Worship

Zhanwang  Su

doi:10.54691/6hcf7769

Authors

Zhanwang Su

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54691/6hcf7769

Keywords:

Fan groups; Idol worship; Negative effects; Fan Community Disorders; Cyberbullying; Governance Pathways.

Abstract

The fast growth of fan culture has made excessive idol worship become widespread causing increasing anarchy among fan groups. This paper is centered on this pain point and discusses the unhealthy practices of fan groups and the harmful consequences of excessive idol worship, presenting practical applications on how to direct the sound and sensible growth of the fan culture. Based on the report of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), CNNIC 2020 Report on Internet Usage among Minors in China and the report on People's Daily Online, the study identified the chaotic phenomena and analyzed the causes and hazards of the problem in combination with the examples of fan circle governance. At its root, the drive of capital for profit, platform algorithm bias, psychological development characteristics of young people, and weak social supervision have collectively given rise to chaos such as online violence and irrational fan support, which not only harm the physical and mental health of young people, but also undermine the online ecosystem and public order. Based on this, this article proposes a multi-stakeholder collaborative governance approach, which improves supervision, strengthens platform self-discipline, strengthens home-school guidance, regulates fan behavior, guides idol worship back to rationality, purifies the online space and provides a solid safeguard for the healthy growth of young people.

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