How to Join a Fandom

Familiarize yourself thoroughly with your topic. Shared interest establishes common ground between you and other fans, and comprehensive knowledge expresses the high level of regard you have for your idol.^[1] There are many different kinds of fan, ranging from casual fan to superfan. Serious fandoms often rank in-group status by knowledge pertaining to their subject.^[2] Minor details, like little known side projects of individuals or historical influences, can earn you the status you need to join your fandom effortlessly.

Investigate background information. As a fan, you probably feel closely connected to your topic of interest, and other fans will share this feeling. However, most people don't dig deeper than popularized facts. By researching background information, you’ll feel a more intimate connection to the source of your fandom and to other fans who have done the same. Sharing these similar experiences will accelerate your acceptance into a fandom.^[3]

• Wikipedia is a good place to begin your research. Though the page might be lacking in substantial content, look through citations to find sources other fans might have overlooked.
• Use broader Internet search engines as well. However, take what you learn with a grain of salt. Many newspapers and magazines report unsubstantiated information as a sales gimmick; don’t believe everything you read!
• Look for any books written about your fandom area. In the case of individuals, you might find a biography, even if the person is very young. A memoir might already be on the shelf — Justin Bieber’s Just Getting Started, as an example.^[4]
  • Autobiographies allow you a less filtered glimpse into the inner workings of the writer's mind. Even so, be aware that no one wants to be viewed as a bad person. Don't accept even autobiographical accounts as purely true.

Distinguish romantic entanglements and platonic relationships. Observing the people that surround the subject of your fandom can reveal much that isn't explicitly stated. If the subject is a person, romantic partners can more clearly define taste or personality and not knowing this information might make it difficult to integrate into your fandom. What's more, individuals and family connected to your fandom shed light on backstory.

• In the case of most celebrities with well-established fandoms, a quick internet search will provide as much information about dating life as you could possibly want. This can unearth pictures that demonstrate public behavior, giving you more ammunition to prove you are a true fan worthy of your fandom.
  • Remember to be skeptical of celebrity gossip. Magazines with low integrity thresholds will, for sensationalist appeal, wildly speculate about celebrities when photographed with companions. If your idol denies having been in a relationship, decide who you trust more: magazines looking to make a profit or the person alleged to have been in the relationship.

Keep up to date on fandom news. If you don’t know what’s current with the subject of your fandom, members might question your devotion. In many cases, you can subscribe to a fan mail service to get regular email updates about your related news. Another fantastic tool is Google Alerts, with which you can keep apprised of current events in your fandom.^[5]

• Google Alerts requires a Google account. If you don’t have one and would like to set up Google Alerts, you should create an account. With a Google account, setting up Google Alerts is as simple as:^[6]
  • Visiting the Google Alerts page^[7]
  • Typing the name of your idol or a fandom topic in the box that says “Create an alert about…”
  • Clicking the “Create Alert” button
  • And adding additional alerts for any related topics or people. For example, if you want to know what your idol’s significant other or famous relatives are involved with, add alerts for them. Alerts for projects will keep you informed about career developments — film roles, clothing lines, forthcoming albums, and so on.
• The latest information on Google Alert key words will be emailed to your account as it hits the web! This way you’ll always be aware on what’s going on in the fandom.

Follow the subject of your fandom on social media. Before the advent of social media platforms, it was nearly impossible for fans to know the day-to-day lives of the subject of their fandom beyond what was written in magazines. Today, many icons share their personal thoughts throughout the day on Twitter, which some fans use to deduce subtler details, like pet peeves or a dislike of the word “moist.” If a celebrity has an Instagram account, you can find personal, candid photographs of your idol outside of the spotlight.

• If you haven’t already, create accounts for the major social media platforms on which already have accounts to the subject of your fandom. Here, account curators (sometimes the subject in question, other times fans or PR agents) share information that you might want to know. The major platforms are: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
  • Check these social media sites frequently to see what's going on with your fandom subject!
  • Installing dedicated apps for these platforms on your phone will enable you to respond to your fandom subject on the go or when you’re away from your computer. This can also be useful if your fandom or fandom subject is primarily based in a different time zone.
• Don’t be afraid to interact with the subject of your fandom. Before social media, fans had to write letters which can be time-intensive. Tweets and comments are a quick and easy way to give feedback and get noticed.
• Don’t be upset if you don't get a response. The downside of social media is that most fans have the same access as you, and they are also trying get attention. Don’t give up, though. Maybe one day, you’ll get a response!

Unite with the object of your fandom to support a good cause. Through your Google Alerts, social media following, and by exploring trustworthy websites, you can uncover favorite causes and charities that reflect the views your upon which your fandom is based. You can grow closer to the heart of your fandom by learning to identify with its philanthropic efforts. Acting on these values not only has a positive community impact, it can also earn you special recognition from your fandom – and maybe your idol, too!

• Promoting social causes by sharing links to charities and organizations will indicate your co-commitment with other fans.

Maintain healthy boundaries. As an initiate to your fandom, you should sustain a high level of engagement with your subject to earn quick admission among members of your fandom. But keep your relation in perspective. Show your appreciation without harming anyone emotionally or physically. Remember that celebrities are people too, and deserve to be treated with decency and respect.

• An unhealthy obsession with a celebrity is called celebrity worship syndrome, which has been shown to result in depression, anxiety, and lowered self-esteem.^[8] Your fandom should improve, not worsen your quality of life. This is about having fun!^[9]
• Celebrities live in a state of heightened anxiety due to constant interruptions to their personal lives and overstepped boundaries. For instance, Taylor Swift took out a restraining order in 2014 for a fan who had been stalking her since 2011, and John Lennon was murdered by an obsessed fan.^[10]
• By refusing to view inappropriate material on the internet or in magazines — for example, leaked intimate pictures and videos, or pictures of private property — you demonstrate that you support and love your idol while respecting privacy. You care enough about them to act in a way that makes them feel safe.