To stan or not to stan: When fan culture turns toxic

From Beatlemania to the BTS Army, fan culture and pop culture have always co-existed. But at what point does harmless fandom turn toxic? A Baylor College of Medicine expert gives insight and explains how to break harmful fandom habits.

“Artists may do things that encourage people to get to know them better, so when they start giving people a peek into their lives and creating a persona that their fans can emotionally invest in, they get more people interacting with their work and also gain prestige and make more money,” said Dr. Laurel Williams, associate professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine.

Williams says that anyone can become unhealthily invested with celebrities or individuals. Brands and artists have always created calculated ways to get fans to buy into their products or image, but that has evolved over time. Fans previously had to spend more money and time to repeatedly see a celebrity to cultivate a connection that could turn obsessive, but 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.  

Adolescents in particular are more susceptible to these practices as these curated products are designed to incite intense and addictive emotions that they may be experiencing for the first time.  

“When someone starts ‘speaking their truth’ about a celebrity or topic in a way that dehumanizes others, either online or in person, that’s when you know there’s a problem,” said Williams. “People sometimes invest hundreds or thousands of hours into a celebrity only to be disappointed by the celebrity. In turn, their feelings can come out as anger towards others and sometimes even as self-harm.”

Creating an environment that prevents individuals from engaging in toxic fandom is achievable. Williams reminds people that the content they consume is edited, designed and not real. Real, in-person relationships can teach the difference between superficiality and genuine connection and that words carry weight and what you say has consequences, unlike on the internet. Don’t spend too much time on channels that are designed to constantly keep your attention and use the tools provided in phones or apps that limit the time you spend there.

Parents of adolescents should be curious about what their children are interested in and engage with the content if prompted, Williams said. If it is something they don’t like, parents should be able to have an open, non-judgmental discussion with their child about why they don’t like it or learn more about why their child likes the content.

“If you find yourself alone, obsessed or even feel stuck on a celebrity, don’t feel embarrassed to reach out for help,” said Williams. “Do things that you feel will practically keep you out of that obsessive cycle and use the people around you to help you stay accountable in not spending too much time in the fandom.”