Fan Behavior: An Outlook on Fandom Toxicity in the New Digital Age
Written by: Samyukta Sathish
Edited by: Claire Chen
If you actively follow any artist, show, movie, book series, or other piece of media online, you have probably heard of the term “fandom” - the community of people who make up that certain media’s fanbase. Fanbases are fuel to the fire that is the popularity of the media, and especially with the rise of social media, it is easier now than ever for fans to interact with one another and create fan content to share with others, and hook interest to get people to join a fandom.
However, with this rise of digital connectivity, comes a flip side: increased toxicity both within and between fandoms, especially due to social media feeding the flames of ‘cancel culture’.
Data from the PEW Research Center reveals that younger people (around 18-29) are more knowledgeable about ‘cancel culture’ with 64% of adults under 30 hearing ‘a fair amount’ or ‘a great deal’ about cancel culture, but only 46% of adults aged 30-40 and 34% of adults 50 and over containing the same degree of knowledgeability.1 Cancel culture is defined by the rising occurrence of creators facing mass criticism after accusations of committing morally dubious actions. Social media allows for these criticisms to spread faster than ever before, and because younger generations are more active on social media, this trend is only going to keep growing.
However, cancellation is not always a guarantee, especially with the rise of parasocialism- fans feeling closer, one-sided emotional bonds to their celebrities. One article from Baylor University Medical Center details the rise of this phenomenon, stating,
"...with the introduction of the internet and social media, a carefully crafted celebrity appearance is always available. Because there are so many channels for celebrities or brands to insert themselves into peoples’ daily lives, superficial connections are more easily and frequently made." 2
In other words, it's easier for fans to become parasocial now because they are constantly being presented with an idolized version of the creator, and may then become trapped in “echo chambers” that surround them with other people that share their same views. This becomes especially dangerous because it can lead to many people overlooking major flaws in character from their idol, and supporting that idol no matter what they do.
Fandom toxicity and cancel culture aren’t just limited to fandoms with an idol, however- fandom members can also be increasingly toxic towards each other when they have different views. People receiving intense and/or numerous hate comments for expressing an opinion on a show, song, book, etc. is a common occurrence in today’s society, and with everyone being hidden behind screens, people become more and more willing to express bolder commentary that can hurt others. People across social media are expressing how toxic fandom behaviour discourages them from continuing to follow a piece of media, one person saying:
“Associating such nonsense with the media puts me in a mindset that is much more receptive to negative aspects of the content, and before long, my list of criticisms will outnumber my list of positives, and I will begin to actively dislike it.” 3
Regardless of its scale, toxicity in any fandom is bound to occur to some degree- especially with larger fanbases such as Harry Potter, BTS, and Taylor Swift, where the sheer amount of people leads to many differences in opinion. Although toxicity is inevitable, there are measures that can be done to mitigate the effects of fandom toxicity on viewing experience:
Separation of the media from the artist- In the case of cancel culture, people frown upon the media due to controversy surrounding the creator. For example, accusations of JK Rowling’s transphobia have led to public disdain regarding the enjoyment of the Harry Potter series. However, making the mental distinction between liking the media (book, film, series, art) and the artist is one step closer to stepping away from the toxicity of the fandom.
Maintaining strong media literacy- Yes, reading others’ opinions can influence your own opinions, but consuming media critically helps you make your own opinions on the art rather than relying on others’ interpretations. Also, in case of cancellation of a figure, always do your own individual research in order to form your own opinion on the matter.
Avoidance- Steering clear of a fandom is the always the easiest and most effective way to avoid fandom toxicity- consume the media without interacting with the fanbase. While complete avoidance is usually not possible, especially due to social media being catered towards your interests, learning to recognize and ignore toxic arguments in fandoms is the most effective way to avoid letting the fandom affect viewing experience.
Despite all of this however, remember: at the end of the day, it's your choice about how you interact with a fandom. As long as your decisions don’t actively harm or defame others, all opinions on the internet are valid, and the luxury of being able to see these different opinions interact is what makes the internet such an interesting social sphere. But no matter how you plan on interacting online, just remember that the internet is full of opinions, both good and bad; think critically, interact responsibly, and most importantly, enjoy what you want to.
Works Cited
Vogels, E. A., Anderson, M., Porteus, M., Baronavski, C., Atske, S., McClain, C., Auxier, B., & Perrin, A. (n.d.). Americans and 'Cancel Culture': Where Some See Calls for Accountability, Others See Censorship, Punishment. Pew Research Center. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2021/05/19/americans-and-cancel-culture-where-some-see-calls-for-accountability-others-see-censorship-punishment/
Nieto, A. (n.d.). To stan or not to stan: When fan culture turns toxic. Baylor College of Medicine. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://www.bcm.edu/news/to-stan-or-not-to-stan-when-fan-culture-turns-toxic
Fandoms actively ruin shows by putting you in a critical headspace that's more receptive to negative aspects of the content? : r/television. (n.d.). Reddit. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://www.reddit.com/r/television/comments/xc6519/fandoms_actively_ruin_shows_by_putting_you_in_a/
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