Post 6: The Social Media Age

Any artist gains a lot of fans on every new release of their album or music video. Since most of them have already spent the previous years with their fans through fanmeetings or fansigning events, they have the opportunity to meet with their fans, and most fans could meet their idols in more than one event. Fans won't be able to know these schedules unless they have updates with the help of social media. It could be Facebook, Twitter, a Fansite, Tublr, and many more. Soshified, an International Fansite for fans of Girls' Generation tackles about Fandom once more, The Sone Fandom in Social Media Age. This particular article is not only about sones, it's for fans all over the world. It was written by michaelroni, and he said:

"Fandoms are not defined by numbers of famous names; they are defined by the relationships between fans and the artists, as well as between fans themselves. Few relationships last forever, but every friendship leaves an impact that people remember for the rest of their lives."

Because of today's social media age, it was said in the article that friendship between fans are created, groups, pages, and many more. There have been instances that they role play, play games, chat with each other and spazz about their favorite OTPs or biases. Anything is possible online. Most people barely knew each other in real life because they only have the opportunity to talk with each other online. They unite together and this is one of the things that makes fandom stronger. 

In such cases, social media helps every individual to be visible in the world of fandom. Fans will not miss any minute of the day, not knowing their idol's updates in fancam, self camera pictures, live performance, interviews, or even concerts in selected countries. Without social media, they won't know any of this. Most of them probably have a folder or more of their idol's photos, and save another photo for each new update. Even myself, I got about 60 folders of pictures of SNSD. People think that I'm now really obsessed with these girls and I'm like a stalker. The truth is, I'm not. Most fans would consider it as a habit and it's not strange at all. To normal people, yes, but when it comes to other fellow fans, they would be amazed and excited about it.

"No one ever truly leaves the fandom."

Basically, it's actually true. Once you have been a fan of that idol, even though they disband or he/she doesn't remain an artist anymore, you are still a fan. Being a fan is also a big part of our lives. It's similar to a story from a book. There always been an ending towards the end, but you will always remember it or treasure it. Fandom unites the fans and the idols as one. Antis have been spreading throughout the internet as well, but because there are fans, the idols won't entertain them because they still have someone who looks up to them and supports them no matter what happens. There is that special bond that other people will not understand between the fans and idols. They are like family, together until the very end. Like other idols might say, "Let's be together even though we are already old." And as long as they know that the fans remember them, the same goes for them. Every fan is in the heart of any artist. Social media is a part of fandom so they can spazz, be together in groups, and another new friendship will build between fans, no matter what country they come from.