Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Stan Twitter

Stan Twitter denotes a subculture on the social media platform Twitter (rebranded as X in 2023) populated by "stans," individuals exhibiting extreme devotion to celebrities, predominantly musicians in genres such as pop, hip-hop, and K-pop.^[1]^[2] The nomenclature "stan" originates from Eminem's 2000 track "Stan," which narrates the descent of an obsessive fan into desperation and violence due to unreciprocated admiration from his idol.^[1]^[3]^[4] Participants in Stan Twitter form communities characterized by specialized vernacular, meme dissemination, and algorithmic reinforcement of shared interests, functioning as communities of practice that solidify group cohesion through linguistic norms and interpersonal rituals.^[5]^[6] These networks facilitate fervent promotion of artists via coordinated streaming campaigns, hashtag trends, and defenses against perceived slights, often escalating into inter-fandom conflicts dubbed "fan wars."^[7]^[8] Empirical studies highlight its role in identity construction, particularly for LGBTQ+ individuals, where parasocial bonds with idols substitute for real-world connections amid social isolation.^[9]^[10] Notable traits include a propensity for toxicity, such as doxxing critics, issuing threats, and weaponizing cancellation tactics—originally rooted in accountability mechanisms—against detractors of preferred celebrities, thereby inverting social justice rhetoric for insular protectionism.^[11]^[12] Predominantly comprising young females, LGBTQ+ persons, and left-leaning users, the subculture amplifies artist visibility but has drawn scrutiny for fostering delusional attachments and mental health strains from unattainable intimacy expectations.^[13]^[10] Despite platform migrations post-2022 ownership changes, Stan Twitter persists as a potent force in digital fandom dynamics, influencing chart performances and public discourse on celebrity accountability.^[7]^[14]

Definition and Origins

Etymology and Conceptual Roots

The term "stan" originated with the release of Eminem's song "Stan" on May 23, 2000, as the third track from his album The Marshall Mathers LP.^[15] The song narrates the story of an unstable fan named Stan who sends increasingly desperate letters to Eminem, culminating in Stan driving off a bridge with his girlfriend strapped in the trunk after receiving no reply.^[1] Eminem has stated that the song is not based on a specific real person but draws from amalgamated fan interactions he experienced.^[15] "Stan" functions as a portmanteau of "stalker" and "fan," encapsulating the obsessive devotion depicted in the track, which blends admiration with pathological intensity.^[1] By the 2010s, the term had broadened to describe highly dedicated music fans, particularly in online spaces, shedding some of its initial negative connotations of danger while retaining emphasis on fervor.^[1] Stan Twitter emerged as a descriptor for Twitter communities of such fans around the early 2010s, rooted in pre-social media fan cultures but amplified by the platform's real-time interaction capabilities, which fostered parasocial relationships and collective mobilization.^[1] These roots trace to broader historical fandoms, such as Beatlemania in the 1960s, where mass media enabled one-sided emotional bonds, but Twitter's structure—short-form posts, hashtags, and direct artist access—intensified group dynamics and identity formation around celebrity support.^[16]

Emergence and Growth on Twitter (2006–2015)

Twitter launched publicly on July 15, 2006, providing a platform for short-form, real-time communication that facilitated early fan interactions among music enthusiasts.^[17] Although the term "stan" originated from Eminem's 2000 song depicting an obsessive fan, its application to organized online communities emerged on Twitter as celebrities began adopting the service for direct engagement.^[1] Initial growth was modest, with fans of emerging pop acts using hashtags and mentions to coordinate support, share updates, and defend artists against critics, laying groundwork for hierarchical fandom structures.^[2] By 2009, high-profile artists like Justin Bieber joined Twitter, accelerating stan mobilization; Bieber's account, active from early that year, generated massive engagement, with his fandom—known as Beliebers—driving trends and comprising up to 3% of the platform's total traffic by September 2010.^[18] Similarly, Lady Gaga's fans, dubbed Little Monsters, coalesced around her Twitter presence starting in summer 2009, when she began referring to them by that name during performances; Gaga became the first user to reach 10 million followers in May 2011, underscoring the scale of dedicated stan followings.^[19] ^[20] These groups pioneered tactics like mass tweeting to amplify artist visibility, often clashing in "fan wars" over perceived slights, which intensified community bonds and slang development. The early 2010s marked rapid expansion, coinciding with Twitter's user base growth from 6 million in 2008 to over 200 million active users by 2013; stan culture proliferated with boy bands like One Direction, whose Directioners formed in 2010 and used the platform for voting campaigns and real-time concert reactions.^[1] K-pop fandoms also gained traction, as idols such as 2PM's Nichkhun opened personal accounts in 2010, enabling international fans to organize streams, translations, and defenses against cultural critiques.^[21] By 2015, stan Twitter had evolved into distinct subcultures with formalized norms, such as account naming conventions (e.g., @ArtistNameStan) and intra-fandom rankings, fueled by the platform's algorithmic promotion of viral fan content.^[2] This period's dynamics highlighted Twitter's role in transforming passive admiration into collective action, though early communities occasionally exhibited toxic behaviors like coordinated harassment of detractors.^[22]

Core Characteristics and Community Structure

Fandom Loyalty and Hierarchies

Stan Twitter participants exhibit intense loyalty to specific celebrities, characterized by obsessive dedication that includes coordinated promotion, defense against critics, and participation in fan wars with rival groups. This loyalty stems from the term "stan," derived from Eminem's 2000 song "Stan," which portrays an unhinged fan's fixation on the rapper, evolving into a cultural shorthand for fervent fandom by the early 2010s on Twitter.^[16]^[23] Stans measure allegiance through public metrics like engagement rates on posts supporting their idol, such as retweets and likes during promotional campaigns.^[24] Community hierarchies emerge organically based on social capital accrued via follower counts and consistent activity, where accounts with larger audiences hold elevated status and influence narratives or mobilize collective actions. Higher follower numbers correlate directly with perceived authority, enabling top stans to dictate discourse, organize events like mention parties—coordinated tweeting to gain an idol's notice—and gatekeep information flows.^[25] For instance, in K-pop fandoms, influential accounts leverage their reach to amplify streaming efforts or counter rival stans, reinforcing their position through demonstrated commitment.^[25] Loyalty often substitutes for real-life social connections, particularly among demographics overrepresented in stan culture: females, LGBTQ+ individuals, and politically liberal users, who predominantly stan musicians including K-pop artists.^[13] Surveys indicate 21-35% of social media users self-identify as stans, using platforms like Twitter for community building and parasocial relationship maintenance via rituals like daily updates and merchandise advocacy.^[13] These hierarchies can intensify during conflicts, as seen in the 2018 feud between Nicki Minaj and Cardi B stans, where loyalty fueled online harassment and doxxing campaigns across Twitter.^[26] Such dynamics mirror real-world social structures, with status derived from visible contributions to the fandom's goals rather than egalitarian ideals.^[25] Behavioral norms in Stan Twitter prioritize unwavering loyalty to specific artists, manifested through organized promotional activities such as streaming parties and mass voting campaigns aimed at elevating chart positions and award outcomes.^[27]^[23] Participants frequently customize profiles with artist imagery, share fancams, and rapidly reply to celebrity tweets in pursuit of recognition.^[23] A dominant convention involves vehement defense of favored artists against any critique, often interpreting neutral analysis as personal attacks and responding with hostility.^[24]^[23] Social dynamics revolve around parasocial relationships with celebrities, which empirical studies link to heightened in-group solidarity and out-group aggression, including behavioral tendencies toward rival fandoms.^[28] In a survey of 265 pop culture fans, stronger parasocial bonds predicted out-group hostility (β = .33, p < .001) and aggression (β = .28, p < .001), with cultural factors amplifying these effects in collectivist contexts.^[28] Community hierarchies form around metrics of dedication, such as follower counts in the thousands, detailed knowledge of artist discographies, and verified interactions with the celebrity, positioning "power players" as influencers who direct collective actions.^[23] Rivalries between stan groups frequently escalate into toxic conflicts, exemplified by instances of death threats and racist harassment, as seen in Arianators targeting a journalist critical of Ariana Grande in 2020 or Fifth Harmony fans harassing member Normani amid group splits in 2016.^[23]^[27] These dynamics enable rapid mobilization for support but also facilitate abuse, doxxing, and internal fragmentation when loyalties divide.^[24]^[27] Demographically, Stan Twitter users are disproportionately female, LGBTQ+, and politically liberal, comprising 21-35% of surveyed social media users who primarily stan musicians, especially K-pop artists, to foster connections and share promotional content.^[13] While these communities provide a sense of belonging through shared rituals like release-night discussions, the emphasis on blind defense often overrides critical discourse, normalizing aggressive norms over constructive engagement.^[13]^[28]

Cultural Practices and Expressions

Memes, Slang, and Digital Folklore

The lexicon of Stan Twitter incorporates specialized slang that facilitates rapid discourse on artists' merits, commercial outcomes, and interpersonal fandom rivalries, often borrowing from queer, Black, and internet subcultures. Central to this is "stan," referring to a highly devoted fan, which originated in Eminem's song "Stan" from his album The Marshall Mathers LP, released on November 20, 2000, narrating the perils of obsessive fandom.^[1] ^[29] By the 2010s, the term evolved into a verb meaning to support fervently, as recognized in dictionaries like Oxford English by 2017.^[30] Other prevalent terms include "mother," applied to an artist deemed supremely influential or talented, functioning as a term of veneration in hierarchical fan debates; "flop," denoting underwhelming sales or reception, such as an album failing to chart highly; and "serve" or "ate," praising a performance or aesthetic as exceptionally compelling, roots in ballroom and drag culture where it connotes delivering a fierce presentation.^[31] "Ratio," a platform mechanic where replies outnumber likes on a post, is weaponized to highlight perceived public rejection, common in cross-fandom skirmishes. These terms enable concise, insider signaling, with overuse sometimes critiqued for diluting expressive nuance within the community. Memes in Stan Twitter amplify emotional investment through ironic exaggeration and visual templates, often repurposing celebrity imagery for supremacy claims or mockery. The "Who Is This Diva?" meme, emerging around 2020, involves labeling performers with effusive titles like "this diva" to underscore iconic moments, prevalent among LGBTQ+ users.^[32] Similarly, "I Think We Can All Agree That," documented from at least February 2020, asserts uncontroversial fandom consensus on an artist's edge over rivals.^[33] The "donatella VERSACE 💜" format, inspired by a 2023 comment from designer Donatella Versace, deploys purple hearts and emphatic styling for emphatic endorsements. Such memes, shared virally during events like award shows, reinforce group identity while escalating inter-fandom tensions. Digital folklore manifests as communal myths, rituals, and cautionary narratives sustaining the subculture's cohesion and lore. Traditions include synchronized "streaming parties" to inflate play counts for chart manipulation, treated as sacred duties with anecdotal tallies of successes, such as boosting singles to number-one debuts.^[34] Folklore also encompasses hagiographic retellings of artists' comebacks or "snubs" by industry gatekeepers, evolving into memes like "reheating nachos," a 2024-2025 motif linking mundane absurdities to pop icons' resilience.^[35] Intra-community taboos, such as "accountability" for perceived betrayals, form parables warning against disloyalty, while deified archetypes—"king/queen of [genre]"—perpetuate aspirational hierarchies, blending reverence with competitive myth-making. These elements, transmitted via threads and retweets, cultivate a sense of inherited wisdom, though prone to distortion in echo chambers.

Distinctions from Broader Twitter Ecosystems

Stan Twitter operates as a series of insular subcultures centered on obsessive fandom for specific celebrities, particularly pop musicians, where users prioritize coordinated promotion and defense of their chosen artists through activities like mass streaming and voting campaigns, in contrast to the broader Twitter platform's diverse, often transient conversations on politics, current events, and general memes.^[27]^[36] Unlike casual Twitter users who engage sporadically with trending topics or personal anecdotes, Stan Twitter participants exhibit heightened emotional investment via parasocial relationships, treating idols as extensions of personal identity and mobilizing in "fan wars" to counter perceived slights, which fosters a combative atmosphere absent in mainstream discourse.^[10]^[37] The ecosystem employs a proprietary slang and norms—such as labeling detractors as "antis" or successes as "slays"—that reinforce group loyalty and hierarchies among influential "big accounts," distinguishing it from the platform's wider reliance on universal hashtags and algorithmic virality without such rigid allegiance structures.^[38]^[23] Demographically, Stan Twitter skews toward younger users, often teenagers running anonymous accounts, with elevated representation of LGBTQ+ individuals and left-leaning views that shape its interpersonal dynamics and avoidance of broader ideological clashes, unlike the more varied age groups and opinion spectra in general Twitter communities.^[39]^[40]

Mobilization and Fan Power

Organizational Tactics for Support (e.g., Streaming, Voting)

Stan Twitter participants frequently coordinate streaming parties, synchronized events where fans simultaneously play an artist's tracks on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube to inflate streaming metrics and influence Billboard chart rankings or algorithmic recommendations.^[27] These efforts often involve sharing playlists, timestamps for playback, and proof of multi-device streaming—such as screenshots of songs queued on phones, computers, and tablets—to amplify counts, as seen in campaigns for groups like Fifth Harmony in 2016, where fans documented streaming "Work from Home" across devices to sustain its chart performance.^[27] Organizers use Twitter threads, hashtags, and auxiliary tools like Discord or Stationhead apps to rally participants, with parties timed around release dates or to counter rival fandoms' efforts; for instance, Taylor Swift enthusiasts hosted a "Reputation" streaming party on July 23, 2025, to boost the album's visibility amid anniversary promotions.^[41] Voting campaigns represent another core tactic, targeting fan-influenced categories in awards like the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) or American Music Awards (AMAs), where public votes can comprise up to 50% of the decision in some segments. Stans mobilize through Twitter by promoting dedicated hashtags (e.g., #VoteArtistName), scheduling vote blasts during open windows, and encouraging bulk submissions via apps or websites, often framing participation as loyalty tests within fandom hierarchies.^[25] In K-pop adjacent Stan Twitter circles, this has propelled wins in events like the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA), with abnormal voting spikes noted in 2022 analyses attributing surges to coordinated fan blocs rather than organic support.^[42] Such tactics have demonstrable impact, as evidenced by stan-driven boosts in VMA fan-voted polls for artists like Ariana Grande, where rapid Twitter amplification led to category victories in 2018 and 2019 despite competition.^[43] These methods extend to merchandise drives and playlist curation, but streaming and voting remain foundational for translating online enthusiasm into measurable industry outcomes, though critics argue they distort genuine popularity by prioritizing volume over sustained engagement.^[44] Empirical data from chart analyses shows stan coordination correlating with temporary spikes—e.g., a 20-30% streaming uplift during organized parties—but diminishing returns post-event highlight reliance on perpetual mobilization.^[45]

Direct Interactions with Artists and Industries

Stan Twitter enables direct interactions between fans and artists through platform features such as replies, mentions, and direct messages, often resulting in artists liking, retweeting, or responding to fan content, which strengthens fan loyalty.^[46] These engagements exemplify the shift toward unmediated communication on social media, where artists can form instant connections with dedicated supporters.^[46] A notable instance occurred at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards, where Twitter introduced "Stan Mail," a tool permitting international fans to send backstage messages to artists with real-time language translation, facilitating cross-cultural direct outreach during the event.^[47] This initiative underscored Twitter's role in bridging geographical and linguistic barriers for fan-artist dialogue.^[47] Artists have proactively sought input from stans for creative projects; for example, in April 2024, Eminem launched an online questionnaire inviting superfans to share personal stories of how his music impacted their lives, with submissions accepted until December 31, 2024, for inclusion in a documentary exploring his fanbase.^[48] Such calls demonstrate artists leveraging stan communities for authentic content generation.^[48] Music industry entities, including record labels and artist management, engage stan Twitter by monitoring discussions and responding to organized fan feedback, which can influence promotional strategies or address grievances directly via official accounts.^[45] These interactions highlight stans' role in providing real-time market insights, though they occasionally escalate into demands that prompt public statements from industry representatives.^[45]

Political Dimensions

Ideological Predominance and Bias Patterns

Stan Twitter communities, especially those devoted to K-pop acts like BTS and mainstream pop figures such as Taylor Swift, overwhelmingly exhibit progressive ideological leanings, manifested through coordinated support for social justice causes. In June 2020, BTS's ARMY fandom raised over $1 million for Black Lives Matter in under 24 hours to match the group's donation, demonstrating rapid mobilization capacity.^[49]^[50] K-pop stans further channeled this energy against conservative targets, such as signing up fake attendees for Donald Trump's Tulsa rally in June 2020 via TikTok coordination, which reduced projected turnout from over 1 million RSVPs to approximately 6,200 actual attendees.^[51]^[52] This predominance arises from participant demographics—predominantly young females and LGBTQ+ individuals in urban settings, groups that survey data consistently show favor liberal positions—and emulation of artists' endorsements where given, including Swift's calls to vote against Republicans in Tennessee's 2018 Senate race and her backing of Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024.^[53]^[54] A key bias pattern is the disconnect between fans and artists: South Korean K-pop idols often adhere to political neutrality or conservative-leaning personal views due to domestic cultural and regulatory pressures, yet international stans interpret empowerment-themed lyrics as endorsements of progressive activism, leading to fan-driven political expressions absent from the artists themselves.^[55] Intra-community dynamics reinforce left-leaning biases via echo chambers and social enforcement, where conservative opinions provoke ridicule or ostracism, as reported by self-identified right-leaning stans facing accusations of contrarianism for attention.^[56] Performative activism patterns emerge, with gestures like hashtag campaigns prioritized for platform visibility and peer approval over sustained policy engagement, often amplifying symbolic support for issues like racial justice while sidelining nuanced debate.^[57]^[58] Mainstream media outlets, which exhibit systemic left-leaning tendencies in coverage of youth movements, tend to portray these mobilizations favorably without scrutinizing the suppression of ideological diversity within fandoms, potentially inflating perceptions of unanimity.^[59] Conservative-leaning stan subgroups, such as those for artists like Eminem with past anti-establishment critiques, remain marginal and fragmented compared to the dominant progressive blocs in pop and K-pop spheres.

Activism Instances and Associated Critiques

Stan Twitter communities have engaged in political activism primarily aligned with progressive causes, leveraging their organizational skills honed from fan mobilization. In June 2020, BTS's ARMY fandom raised over $1 million for Black Lives Matter through the #MatchAMillion campaign, matching BTS's own $1 million donation and directing funds to racial justice organizations.^[51]^[60] Similarly, K-pop stans disrupted alt-right hashtags like #WhiteLivesMatter by flooding them with fancams and unrelated content, diluting their visibility during the George Floyd protests.^[61] Another instance occurred ahead of Donald Trump's June 2020 Tulsa rally, where K-pop fans mass-signed up for tickets using fake RSVPs, contributing to lower-than-expected attendance of around 6,200 despite claims of 1 million requests.^[62] Broader Stan Twitter rallied for social justice following George Floyd's death on May 25, 2020, with fans pausing intra-fandom discussions to amplify BLM messaging and protests against anti-Black racism.^[63] In the lead-up to the November 2020 U.S. election, stan accounts promoted "vote blue" efforts, using their networks to encourage registration and turnout for Democratic candidates.^[64] Taylor Swift's fans amplified her political endorsements, such as her September 2018 support for Democratic candidates Phil Bredesen and Jim Cooper in Tennessee's Senate and House races, which correlated with a surge in voter registrations via Vote.org.^[53] Critiques of these efforts highlight their often performative nature, where activism serves to signal virtue but lacks sustained commitment, as stan discussions rapidly revert to artist promotion post-event.^[57] Observers note that stan mobilization frequently morphs social justice tactics into tools for intra-community harassment or rival cancellation, appropriating cancel culture's logic to target critics or competing fandoms rather than addressing root issues.^[11]^[65] In K-pop specifically, fans face accusations of selective outrage, such as prioritizing anti-Trump actions while inconsistently applying cultural appropriation critiques to their own genre's history of racial insensitivity.^[66] These patterns reflect a causal dynamic where fan loyalty overrides nuanced policy engagement, fostering echo chambers that prioritize emotional catharsis over empirical impact assessment.^[67]

Controversies and Conflicts

Intra-Fandom and Interpersonal Dramas

Intra-fandom dramas within Stan Twitter communities frequently stem from disagreements over artists' personal choices, lyrical interpretations, or perceived betrayals, leading to public schisms and accusations of disloyalty among fans. These conflicts often manifest as heated threads, hashtag campaigns, and mutual blocking, with participants policing each other's devotion through labels like "fake stans" or "traitors." For example, in the Taylor Swift fandom, internal divisions intensified during her May 2023 relationship with Matty Healy of The 1975, following revelations of his prior controversial remarks, including defending racially insensitive tropes on The Adam Friedland Show podcast in early 2023.^[68]^[69] A subset of Swifties initiated the #SpeakUpNow campaign on May 17, 2023, demanding Swift denounce Healy's behavior and some even canceling Eras Tour merchandise orders in protest, while others accused critics of overstepping into the artist's private life, escalating to intra-group harassment.^[70] Interpersonal dramas extend these tensions to individual rivalries, where fan accounts clash over minor slights, such as differing opinions on album rankings or artist endorsements, often amplifying through retweets and pile-ons. In Nicki Minaj's Barbz community, such disputes have arisen over support for her collaborations or resolutions to past feuds, with Minaj herself addressing fan overreach in a November 7, 2023, social media post urging Barbz to cease threats against detractors, including fellow fans, on her behalf.^[71] Similarly, reports from 2021 highlight instances across fandoms like Swifties and Barbz where members harassed peers for dissenting views, such as criticizing an artist's response to industry disputes, fostering a culture of internal vigilance and exclusion.^[65] These dynamics underscore how Stan Twitter's emphasis on unwavering loyalty can transform interpretive differences into personal vendettas, occasionally prompting artists to intervene.

Artist-Fan and Media Clashes

Stan Twitter communities have engaged in direct conflicts with artists who critique obsessive or toxic fan behaviors, often leading to public rebukes. In August 2020, Katy Perry described stan culture on Twitter as perpetuating drama by pitting female artists against each other through comparisons of sales, body image, and achievements, stating her feed was filled with queries like "who's better than who?"^[72]^[73] Perry emphasized this dynamic harms collaborative spirit among women in pop music. Similarly, Mitski has repeatedly addressed fan overreach; in a 2019 interview, she called it "terrifying" for large groups of strangers to act on her behalf without permission, highlighting the loss of artist autonomy.^[23] In May 2022, during her *Laurel Hell* tour, Mitski requested audiences refrain from filming performances to preserve intimacy, prompting backlash from some fans who accused her of ingratitude despite her rationale of countering constant exploitation.^[74] These artist-fan tensions underscore a pattern where superfans interpret criticism of fandom norms as personal betrayal, escalating to defensive online campaigns. Perry's comments, for instance, arose amid her album Smile's promotion, where stan rivalries overshadowed artistic discourse. Mitski's experiences reflect broader indie artist struggles against parasocial expectations amplified by platforms like Twitter, where fans demand unfiltered access.^[75]^[76] Conflicts with media outlets and critics frequently involve coordinated harassment campaigns by stans defending artists from perceived slights. In July 2020, Taylor Swift fans doxxed and sent threats to Pitchfork senior editor Jeremy Larson after he rated her surprise album Folklore 8/10, rather than a perfect score, illustrating stan intolerance for nuanced reviews.^[65]^[77] In April 2019, Ariana Grande supporters unleashed racist, misogynistic messages and death threats against journalist Roslyn Talusan following her Twitter critique of Grande's personal conduct, with the artist issuing a vague apology but not curbing the mob.^[65] Lana Del Rey's 2019 tweet challenging an NPR review of her album Norman Fucking Rockwell! mobilized fans to harass critic Ann Powers, blending artist encouragement with stan aggression.^[65] Nicki Minaj's Barbz have exemplified media clashes through sustained attacks; in 2018, they and Minaj herself targeted New York Times critic Wanna Thompson with insults labeling her "ugly" and "jealous" after a mixed review of Queen, contributing to Thompson's temporary withdrawal from public commentary.^[65]^[78] Such incidents reveal how stan groups prioritize acclaim metrics over substantive critique, often doxxing or threatening journalists, which reputable outlets like The Guardian have linked to a broader erosion of honest music discourse.^[79] These patterns, documented across multiple high-profile cases from 2018 to 2020, demonstrate stan Twitter's role in intimidating media, sometimes with implicit artist endorsement, fostering environments where fear of backlash suppresses balanced analysis.^[80]

Instances of Harassment, Doxxing, and Legal Repercussions

In 2019, Ariana Grande's fans, known as Arianators, launched a sustained campaign of harassment against Filipino-Canadian writer Katherine Cusumano after she critiqued Grande's music video "thank u, next" in a Teen Vogue article, sending racist, misogynistic, and violent threats that referenced Cusumano's past sexual assault.^[81]^[82] Grande did not publicly condemn the attacks at the time, though she later urged fans in 2024 to avoid sending hateful messages amid personal rumors.^[80] Doxxing incidents have frequently targeted music critics perceived as unfavorable to stan-favored artists. In July 2020, Taylor Swift fans doxxed Pitchfork senior editor Jeremy Larson by publicizing his personal information after the site's 8.0 review of Swift's album Folklore, leading to widespread online abuse.^[65] Similarly, Nicki Minaj's Barbz doxxed reporters in 2018 following critical coverage of her feud with Cardi B, resulting in death threats to one journalist, and in February 2024, they shared podcaster T-Pain's former address and phone number after he critiqued Minaj.^[83]^[84] In K-pop stan communities, BTS's ARMY has been linked to doxxing Black fans and critics voicing dissent, including during 2020 Black Lives Matter discussions where opposing stans faced coordinated exposure of personal details.^[85] Legal repercussions for stan-driven harassment remain infrequent due to the challenges of attributing anonymous online actions to individuals, though some cases have proceeded. In 2021, South Korean agency JYP Entertainment, representing Stray Kids, pursued legal action against anonymous netizens for defamation and malicious rumors spread via stan Twitter accounts, vowing to disclose identities and seek damages.^[65] Broader platform responses include Twitter (now X) suspensions for doxxing violations, as seen in Barbz-led campaigns where accounts were temporarily banned, but enforcement has been criticized as inconsistent.^[86] No major U.S. civil or criminal convictions directly tied to stan Twitter doxxing were reported as of 2025, reflecting prosecutorial hurdles in proving intent amid fan anonymity.^[87]

Psychological and Sociological Impacts

Community Benefits and Parasocial Bonds

Participation in Stan Twitter communities fosters a sense of belonging among members, who often report deriving emotional support from shared enthusiasm for artists, particularly during periods of isolation such as the COVID-19 pandemic. A 2024 study on Stan Twitter users found that parasocial relationships (PSRs) developed on the platform served as substitutes for real-life connections lost due to lockdowns, enhancing users' sense of community and mitigating feelings of disconnection.^[10] Empirical analysis of online fan interactions, applicable to stan-like groups, revealed that higher intensity of engagement with fellow fans positively correlates with mental well-being (β = 0.321, p < 0.01), independent of prior loneliness levels.^[88] These communities provide mutual encouragement, such as coordinating streams or defenses against perceived slights, which can bolster individual resilience and collective identity. For instance, fans in stan networks have described the space as a source of comfort amid personal hardships, where aligning over an artist's narrative offers validation and reduces isolation.^[89] Broader research on fan communities indicates that affiliation enhances psychological well-being by promoting positive affect and social integration, effects observed in stan Twitter's rapid mobilization for artist promotion.^[90] Parasocial bonds in Stan Twitter, characterized by fans' perceived intimacy with celebrities via tweets and interactions, contribute to identity formation and autonomy, especially among adolescents. A 2017 study highlighted how such one-sided relationships aid in self-development by modeling behaviors and providing aspirational figures, with stan users often citing artists' posts as motivational anchors.^[91] These bonds thrive on platforms like Twitter due to direct-seeming engagement, enabling fans to feel connected across distances and derive hedonic value from virtual proximity.^[92] However, while beneficial for some in fostering purpose, their intensity can vary, with empirical links to improved emotional regulation in moderate cases.^[93]

Drawbacks: Groupthink, Outrage Cycles, and Mental Health Correlates

Stan Twitter communities often foster groupthink, where intense loyalty to favored celebrities discourages critical discourse and enforces conformity through collective shaming or exclusion of dissenters. Fans frequently mobilize to defend artists against perceived slights, attacking critics or even fellow fans who express nuanced views, as seen in cases where online detractors face doxxing or harassment for questioning an artist's decisions.^[94]^[95] This dynamic creates echo chambers that amplify uniform narratives, suppressing individual reasoning and prioritizing tribal allegiance over empirical evaluation of an artist's work.^[96] Outrage cycles in Stan Twitter manifest as rapid escalations of interpersonal and inter-fandom conflicts, often triggered by minor controversies or competitive chart rivalries, leading to sustained campaigns of vitriol. For instance, during the 2020 Megan Thee Stallion-Nicki Minaj feud, Minaj's fans desecrated Megan's mother's gravestone and propagated unsubstantiated claims about her injury, exemplifying how group mobilization turns personal disputes into widespread digital mobbing.^[95] Platform dynamics exacerbate this, with Twitter use predicting a 0.19 standard deviation increase in outrage expression within 30 minutes, particularly during information-seeking behaviors common in fandom monitoring.^[97] Such cycles perpetuate a pattern of manufactured scandals, where fans demand perpetual content or retroactively "cancel" artists over unearthed past statements, as in backlash against creators like Bobby Burns for career pivots.^[94] Mental health correlates of Stan Twitter engagement include heightened risks of anxiety, depression, and diminished well-being, driven by obsessive parasocial attachments and exposure to toxic interactions. Elevated celebrity worship, akin to stan behaviors, associates with poorer overall mental health outcomes, including increased depression, anxiety, and social dysfunction, based on scales measuring attitudes toward idols.^[98] Dependency on these one-sided relationships can lead to self-esteem erosion and addictive tendencies, with moderate attachments offering temporary mood boosts but excessive involvement fostering dependency and aggression.^[94]^[99] Furthermore, general Twitter usage correlates with a 0.10 standard deviation drop in well-being, compounded in stan contexts by echo-chamber vitriol and unmet expectations from overconsumption, which shifts focus from enjoyment to compulsive theorizing or rivalry.^[97]^[95] Adolescents, a key demographic, face amplified vulnerability, as constant access to curated celebrity content intensifies emotional investment without reciprocal reality.^[100]

Economic and Industrial Influence

Driving Sales, Streams, and Chart Manipulation

Stan Twitter communities have demonstrated significant influence on music consumption metrics by coordinating collective actions to amplify an artist's visibility and performance on charts. Fans, often organized under group names like BTS's ARMY or Taylor Swift's Swifties, mobilize through social media campaigns to encourage repeated streaming on platforms such as Spotify and purchases of physical formats like vinyl albums. For instance, ARMY's efforts contributed to BTS's "Butter" achieving the largest single-week streaming total for a group in Billboard Hot 100 history, with over 108.2 million U.S. streams in its debut week ending June 5, 2021, alongside 242,000 pure sales, securing the top spot.^[101] Similarly, Swifties' targeted buying of multiple album variants propelled Taylor Swift's "The Life of a Showgirl" to 3 million U.S. units in its first week as of October 13, 2025, including 126,000 vinyl copies—the highest single-week vinyl total since tracking began—driven by fans acquiring exclusive editions to maximize chart points.^[102] These activities often manifest as "streaming parties" or "sales drives," where participants are instructed to stream tracks in loops, purchase albums en masse, or view music videos repeatedly within short windows to inflate metrics. In K-pop stan culture, such tactics fuel "chart wars" between rival fandoms, with groups like BTS ARMY and Blackpink's BLINKs competing to dominate global charts through synchronized efforts. This fan-led amplification can yield verifiable economic impact; for example, stan-organized campaigns have boosted overall vinyl sales surges, as seen with Swift's releases correlating to double-digit increases in independent record store transactions following announcements.^[103] However, while these methods leverage genuine enthusiasm and platform algorithms favoring high-volume plays, they prioritize short-term spikes over sustained organic growth.^[104] Critics argue that extreme coordination borders on chart manipulation, particularly when involving tactics like using multiple devices, VPNs to simulate diverse locations, or bulk purchases that exceed typical consumer behavior. Accusations against ARMY include organized mass streaming and buying parties potentially violating platform rules, as highlighted in a 2021 petition citing evidence of VPN usage and bot-like patterns to secure BTS's chart dominance.^[105] In response, BTS and their agency denied manipulation claims in August 2021, attributing success to fan dedication rather than foul play, while noting that charts have long accommodated industry practices like radio payola.^[106] K-pop's sajaegi scandals, involving paid streams or fake sales, further blur lines, though fan-driven efforts are typically distinguished from corporate rigging; investigations into HYBE labels in 2024 focused on internal manipulations rather than stan actions.^[107] Empirical data from Billboard underscores that while stan boosts elevate debut figures—e.g., Swift's variants strategy yielding revenue from collectors—they can distort long-term metrics, as pure sales often decline post-fan blitz.^[108] Ultimately, these dynamics reflect causal incentives in data-driven charts, where mobilized fandoms exploit rules without invariably engaging fraud, though they prompt ongoing debates about authenticity in music success.^[109]

Broader Effects on Entertainment Economics

Stan Twitter communities have reshaped entertainment economics by enabling record labels to leverage fan mobilization for predictive analytics in investment decisions, often favoring artists with pre-existing, highly engaged online followings to forecast commercial viability and minimize launch risks. For example, coordinated stan efforts to boost streaming metrics and social trends serve as proxies for potential revenue, influencing budget allocations for promotion and distribution.^[27]^[110] This dynamic has lowered promotional costs across the industry, as stan accounts and fan pages function as de facto marketing extensions, generating organic buzz and user-generated content that supplants paid advertising. Labels increasingly deploy or incentivize such accounts to amplify reach without direct expenditure, with fan-driven virality reducing customer acquisition expenses in a fragmented digital landscape.^[111] Beyond core music sales, stan culture has accelerated diversification into ancillary revenue models, including exclusive merchandise drops, virtual meet-and-greets, and fan-subsidized campaigns, which collectively account for substantial portions of artist income amid stagnant album revenues. Committed stans demonstrate outsized spending—purchasing multiples of albums, tickets, and apparel—driving hype that elevates catalog values and attracts licensing deals.^[112]^[113] However, the economic influence extends to heightened volatility, where stan-led outrage cycles can erode artist endorsement values and partnership revenues overnight, compelling firms to incorporate social sentiment monitoring into risk assessments for long-term contracts.^[114]

Evolution Amid Platform Shifts

Adaptations to Twitter's Rebrand to X (2023 Onward)

Following the rebranding of Twitter to X on July 23, 2023, stan communities initially expressed widespread confusion and resistance to the shift from the familiar bird logo and nomenclature, mirroring broader user sentiment that the change disrupted platform identity without enhancing core functionalities essential for rapid fandom discourse.^[115] Despite this, stan accounts largely persisted on X, leveraging its real-time posting capabilities for intra-fandom debates, artist promotion, and coordinated campaigns like streaming parties, as the platform's algorithmic emphasis on engagement continued to amplify viral stan content.^[116] ^[117] Platform alterations, including temporary rate limits imposed in July 2023 and the introduction of paid verification via X Premium, prompted some adaptations among stans; high-profile accounts often subscribed to maintain blue check visibility for credibility in fan wars, while others faced reduced reach without it, exacerbating hierarchies within communities.^[118] Reduced content moderation under X's ownership correlated with heightened toxicity in stan interactions, including unchecked harassment and doxxing, as safeguards diminished and extremist voices gained prominence, though communities self-policed through blocklists and alternative hashtags.^[117] ^[119] By 2024–2025, while overall X usage declined—dropping 23% in the US since late 2022—stan culture demonstrated resilience, with Brazilian fans (over 20 million users pre-ban) underscoring X's centrality by grinding to a halt during the September 2024 nationwide suspension, prompting temporary migrations to Bluesky for meme-sharing and artist updates.^[120] ^[121] ^[122] Global stans supplemented X with platforms like Threads and Bluesky for niche discussions, but retained it for high-stakes activities such as chart manipulation due to its trending mechanisms and celebrity engagement, resulting in fragmented yet thriving ecosystems.^[123] ^[124]

Recent Trends and Platform Migrations (2023–2025)

Following Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter in October 2022 and its rebranding to X in July 2023, stan communities experienced disruptions from policy shifts, including reduced content moderation and algorithmic changes that amplified divisive content. U.S. platform usage declined by 23% by November 2024, contributing to fragmented stan discussions amid increased visibility of extremist voices and advertiser exodus.^[120] Despite these challenges, core stan activities—such as real-time discourse, fan defenses, and inter-fandom rivalries—persisted on X, as its immediacy and searchability retained value for rapid trend amplification in music and celebrity fandoms.^[119] Dissatisfaction with X's evolving environment prompted exploratory migrations to alternatives like Bluesky and Threads starting in 2023. Bluesky, emphasizing decentralized moderation, saw initial calls from users for stan communities to relocate there to inject high-engagement "shitposting" and traffic, with Reddit discussions in August 2023 highlighting the need for chaotic stan ecosystems akin to pre-rebrand Twitter.^[125] By late 2024, Taylor Swift's fanbase (Swifties) exemplified partial migration, with thousands transferring accounts to Bluesky amid X's verification changes and content issues, leveraging the platform's custom feeds and algorithmic tools to rebuild community bonds and recreate stan-style interactions.^[126] However, migrations were not wholesale; analyses indicated that fewer than 25% of audiences followed creators to Bluesky, underscoring limited overall defection from X.^[127] Threads, launched by Meta in July 2023 and integrated with Instagram, attracted some stan spillover for visual content and less polarized discourse, with posts in August and November 2024 questioning stan Twitter's future and suggesting Threads as a haven amid X's "disarray." Growth metrics showed Threads reaching 200 million users by early 2025, outpacing Bluesky's 38 million, though neither displaced X for stan-centric text-based debates; instead, stans adopted multi-platform strategies, using TikTok for meme edits and short-form trends while reserving X or Bluesky for in-depth clashes.^[128]^[129] By mid-2025, stan trends reflected hybrid adaptation: K-pop and pop fandoms maintained strong X presences for global coordination, but Bluesky hosted niche recreations like dedicated "Stan Twitter" starter packs for tea-spilling and house-slaying commentary.^[130] Events like Brazil's September 2024 X ban accelerated temporary stan account setups on alternatives, with fans of artists like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift vowing continuity despite follower losses.^[122] Overall, while X's dominance waned, stan culture's resilience favored fragmentation over full exodus, prioritizing platforms enabling parasocial intensity and outrage cycles.^[131]

References

[1]
The 2010s: Social Media And The Birth Of Stan Culture - NPR
Oct 17, 2019 · "Stan" was first coined in 2000 when Eminem dropped a twisted allegory in a song called "Stan," about a man who was pushed to the edge when his idol wouldn't ...
[2]
Stan Twitter | Know Your Meme
Mar 30, 2024 · The term "Stan Twitter" takes inspiration from rapper Eminem's third track "Stan" on The Marshall Mathers LP, in which he raps from the point of ...
[3]
When “stan” became a verb | The Outline
Oct 26, 2017 · Its origins lie in Eminem's 2000 hit song “Stan,” about an overzealous fan, and has come to describe anyone who takes their love of a particular artist or ...
[4]
The origin of stan culture - TFR
Dec 7, 2020 · The term 'stan' may come from Eminem's 2000 song, or from combining 'stalker' and 'fan'. Early examples include Franz Liszt and Nas. Social ...
[5]
[PDF] Language and Algorithmic Community on Stan Twitter
In exploring stan Twitter, I ask, what is the role of language in online stan communities? More specifically, I seek to describe the practice that lies at this.
[6]
[PDF] Stan Twitter as a Community of Practice - Helda - University of Helsinki
May 7, 2024 · The analysis revealed different contexts in which stan twitter users use memetic phrases to convey agreement and disagreement. In addition ...
[7]
https://psychologyandeducation.net/pae/index.php/pae/article/view/3728
[8]
[PDF] The Influence of Fandom Language in the Word Formation of ...
Twitter has birthed the new internet subculture called. 'Stan Twitter', a term to describe fans who actively engage with fan activities on Twitter. Stan Twitter ...
[9]
"We Just Had to Stan" - A Qualitative Analysis of Fan Communities ...
Apr 15, 2024 · This qualitative analysis aimed to elucidate the role of Stan Twitter communities in facilitating individual and collective queer identity formation.
[10]
(PDF) Y/N and OOMFs: Development, Maintenance, and ...
PDF | The study examines Stan Twitter users' sense of belonging and their likelihood of creating PSRs as a substitute for real-life connections lost due.
[11]
With(Stan)ding Cancel Culture: Stan Twitter and Reactionary Fandoms
Apr 10, 2020 · The social justice logic and activism behind cancel culture has been appropriated by Stan Twitter which is an obsessive, overzealous group of ...
[12]
The Underbelly of Stan Culture - The AAKOMA Project
For an ex-Barb turned Hottie, they've been a part of stan Twitter for about 12 years, starting in middle school. They provide insight into what draws stans ...
[13]
Who stans celebrities on social media? The role of gender, sexual ...
Aug 11, 2025 · Stans are more likely to be female, LGBTQ+, and politically liberal, often stans musicians, especially K-pop artists.
[14]
An Exploration of Pop Music Fandoms' User Practices, Identity ...
The following thesis explores music fandoms via “Stan Twitter,” a subsection of the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).
[15]
Is Eminem's “Stan” Based On A True Story? 10 Facts You Didn't ...
10. “Stan” is not based on a true story. Eminem's 2000 smash-hit “Stan” was not based on a real person. However, the song, which tells the story of an obsessed ...
[16]
A History Of "Stan": How Fan Culture Has Evolved, From Eminem To ...
a ; fictional tale of a fan whose devotion takes a deadly turn — the concept of ; parasocial relationships with ...Missing: conceptual | Show results with:conceptual
[17]
A brief history of Twitter: From its founding in 2006 to Musk takeover
Oct 29, 2022 · 2006. In March, Jack Dorsey, Noah Glass, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams created Twitter, which was originally a side project stemming from the ...Missing: Stan emergence
[18]
Belieber!: Fame, Faith and The Heart of Justin Bieber (EXCERPT)
Sep 21, 2011 · From the time he joined Twitter in early 2009 through July 1, Justin posted more than 80 tweets with those tags and a few hundred more tweets ...
[19]
A study of the Little Monsters following Lady Gaga on Twitter and ...
Jan 13, 2014 · During the summer of 2009, she first started to use the name during her live performances to refer her fans.Missing: history | Show results with:history
[20]
Lady Gaga becomes first Twitter user with 10 million followers
May 16, 2011 · Gaga hit the number Saturday and announced it in a tweet to her fans, whom she often calls 'little monsters.' Gaga's celebratory tweet ...
[21]
How K-Pop Took Over America: A Timeline - NYLON
May 19, 2021 · 2010-Present: The Rise Of Stan Twitter And YouTube. In 2010, idols like 2PM's Nichkhun began opening personal Twitter accounts, and K-pop ...
[22]
Haters Gonna Hate: A Case Study of Beliebers and Cyberbullying ...
Feb 15, 2017 · The following paper discusses Beliebers (Bieber fandom) and identifies instances of cyberbullying within the fan community. Youtube video ...<|separator|>
[23]
I pledge allegiance as a stan: Breaking down Twitter subculture
Mar 4, 2022 · “Stan,” as a term, was born from Eminem's Dido-sampled track from 2000, which traces the evolution of a fan named Stan whose appreciation ...Missing: history | Show results with:history
[24]
The Empowered Stan - Fansplaining
Sep 12, 2019 · On Stan Twitter, loyalty and popularity are measured by public displays of support and by big engagement numbers for artists.Missing: hierarchies | Show results with:hierarchies
[25]
[PDF] Development, Maintenance, and Consequences of Parasocial ...
Similar to real-life communities and interpersonal relationships, fandoms often operate within a hierarchy (higher following = higher social status) and, thus, ...
[26]
Nicki Minaj and Cardi B.'s feud, explained | Vox
Nov 6, 2018 · Nicki Minaj's strategy in her feuds has been to weaponize the ugliest aspects of stan culture. To fully understand the Nicki Minaj and Cardi ...
[27]
Internet Culture: The Stan Twitter Effect - The UCSD Guardian
Mar 8, 2018 · Stan Twitter was an organized place to assemble and utilize mass fan participation to bolster chart positions, album sales, or even music video views.Missing: behavioral norms
[28]
The Dark Side of Fandom: Exploring the Association between ...
Sep 25, 2025 · Being a fan is a multi-faceted experience, typically characterized by both emotional and social investments.
[29]
Eminem's Definition of 'Stan' Added to Oxford English Dictionary
Jun 1, 2017 · Rewind to 2002 when Slim Shady released the Dido-assisted track about an overzealous fan named Stan who writes a letter to the Detroit rapper.
[30]
Eminem's "Stan" Is Officially Added to the Oxford English Dictionary
Jun 1, 2017 · After the song was released, “Stan” is now used as a term for an overly devoted fan. In its latest edition, the Oxford English Dictionary has ...<|separator|>
[31]
Guide to 88 Gen Z Slang Terms — 2025 - College Transitions
Mar 1, 2025 · A described period of time that can be defined by a specific quality, most often “flop,” to indicate that a person is passing through a ...Missing: origins | Show results with:origins
[32]
Who Is This Diva? | Know Your Meme
This Diva is commonly used on Twitter / X within Stan Twitter circles consisting of LGBTQ+ and cisgender female users. Labeling someone "this diva" or saying, " ...
[33]
I Think We Can All Agree That | Know Your Meme
Feb 7, 2020 · The origin of the meme is currently unknown, but the earliest known usage was posted by Twitter user @jinsgay who tweeted, "i think we can all ...
[34]
An Unofficial Guide to Stan Culture: Success Stories
Apr 27, 2024 · Whilst there is some debate about who the first 'stans' were, the phrase itself originates from the Eminem track 'Stan', a combination of the ...Missing: roots | Show results with:roots
[35]
The History of "Reheating Nachos" - Stan Twitter Explained - YouTube
Mar 6, 2025 · the origins of both memes, as well as how it all links to Lady Gaga ... The History of "Reheating Nachos" - Stan Twitter Explained. 130K ...Missing: examples | Show results with:examples
[36]
Stan Twitter Is Taking Over the Internet | by Kristin Merrilees - Medium
Jun 5, 2020 · Stan Twitter is a community that revolves around “stanning” (obsessing) around different celebrities, and it even has its own culture and lingo.
[37]
Stan Twitter: The Worst Place on the Internet - The Outspoken
Sep 28, 2022 · Stan Twitter is the internet space where people in parasocial relationships dwell, banding together with other superfans to succeed in defending, and in most ...Missing: norms | Show results with:norms
[38]
A Brief Guide to “Stan Twitter” - moonchild's
Sep 2, 2018 · It basically means the side of Twitter that is comprised of overzealous or obsessive fans of a particular celebrity.
[39]
What is Stan Twitter - The Harriton Banner
Sep 30, 2020 · Some other quirks of Stan Twitter include its very high number of LGBTQ+ members in its community, left-leaning political views, people's ...
[40]
The Reality Of Teen-Run Stan Accounts | The FADER
Aug 24, 2016 · The drought became an opportunity for Cox to interact with an artist-based community as “a casual fan.” But the more active he became on Twitter ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[41]
The secret life of a fan girl - Huron Emery
A streaming party is a type of fan project that gets artists streams up ... There is actually a side of twitter called “Stan Twitter“ where stans communicate.
[42]
About the very abnormal trends in the MAMA votings in the recent ...
Nov 3, 2022 · The whole situation was unjust and then to see OP use it as an example of an award show doing the right thing and deleteing 'bot' votes sucks, ...Need suggestions about stan culture and it's effects! : r/popheadsA commentary on music award shows - how seriously do we take ...More results from www.reddit.com
[43]
Exploring the World of Stans - Eastside
Nov 5, 2024 · The word “stan” originates from the 2000 Eminem song of the same name, in which the character “Stan” was a fan who took his admiration for the ...
[44]
Episode 101: Stan Culture - Fansplaining
May 29, 2019 · Stan culture is just kind of a name—or video games! I actually think that, that pop music stan culture has a lot in common with gaming culture, ...Missing: conceptual roots
[45]
“Stans” are changing the music industry as we know it - but how?
May 4, 2022 · “Stans” is used to refer to fans that are really passionate, and put a lot of their time and energy into supporting what, or who, they are fans of.Missing: examples | Show results with:examples
[46]
Artists Hate Genres. Kelefa Sanneh Thinks That's All Wrong
Oct 5, 2021 · The interaction has become more direct: Fans, artists, and listeners are communicating on social media, and instant consensus is being formed.
[47]
How the VMAs Are Engaging Artists With Their Fans - Billboard
Sep 10, 2021 · VMAs and Twitter introduce Stan Mail, allowing international fans to engage with artists backstage at the awards show.
[48]
Eminem Asks 'Stans' To Share Stories For Superfan Documentary
Apr 11, 2024 · The questionnaire asks ardent followers to describe why they consider themselves Stans and if Slim Shady's music has ever helped them through a rough patch.Missing: examples | Show results with:examples
[49]
How BTS ARMY raised $1 million for Black Lives Matter - Reuters
Jul 14, 2020 · BTS fans organized an online campaign to match the donation under the hashtag #MatchAMillion and reached their goal in just 25 hours.Missing: stan | Show results with:stan
[50]
BTS ARMY Matched The Group's $1 Million Black Lives Matter ...
Jun 8, 2020 · BTS fans raised a staggering $1 million for Black Lives Matter in less than a day.Missing: stan | Show results with:stan
[51]
How US K-pop fans became a political force to be reckoned with
Jun 24, 2020 · Having taken the sting out of an online racist backlash, K-pop fans mustered their forces again, this time to humiliate Donald Trump.
[52]
How K-Pop Stans Set the Stage for the US TikTok Ban - WIRED
Sep 30, 2025 · In 2020, K-pop stans, organized via TikTok, requested tickets to Trump rallies and never showed up, putting the video-sharing platform on ...
[53]
Taylor Swift's History of Politics and Endorsing Candidates | TIME
Sep 11, 2024 · A history of Taylor Swift and politics, from her 2018 Tennessee Senate endorsement to her pledge to vote for Kamala Harris.Missing: stans | Show results with:stans
[54]
A Timeline of Taylor Swift's Political Evolution - Billboard
She first broke her decade-plus-long silence about politics about two years after reality star-turned-politician Donald Trump was elected to the White House in ...
[55]
Why are K-pop stans very liberal in their political beliefs? - Quora
Oct 26, 2020 · K-pop idols tend to avoid making any political statements at all. They are “banned” from the political or sensitive issues. The agencies ...Why are K-pop fans turning towards political activism? - QuoraAre K-pop idols and their fans activists for equality and political ...More results from www.quora.com
[56]
SNS on X: "It's downright hilarious when a leftist on stan Twitter tells ...
Jan 7, 2025 · It's downright hilarious when a leftist on stan Twitter tells me that my conservative views are just a play for likes and followers—as if stan ...
[57]
'Stan Twitter' Breeds Performative Activism - The Wingspan
Apr 7, 2022 · The topic of black people and their traumas has always been a favorite of Stan Twitter, especially when Twitter users can get all the likes ...Missing: ideology | Show results with:ideology
[58]
Stan Twitter Has Been Innovative With The Ways It Spreads ...
Jun 8, 2020 · On Saturday, it was announced that BTS donated $1 million to Black Lives Matter, and fans vowed to match the million-dollar donation. OIAA ran ...
[59]
How K-pop stans are shaping elections around the globe
Feb 16, 2023 · BTS Army and other K-pop fandoms are using the strategies they perfected by promoting their favorite bands to get political.Missing: Stan | Show results with:Stan
[60]
[PDF] Armed in ARMY: A Case Study of How BTS Fans Successfully ...
ARMY, the BTS fandom, raised over one million USD for Black Lives Matter through #MatchAMillion, using shared values, good teamwork, and established ...<|separator|>
[61]
K-Pop Fans Defuse Racist Hashtags | The New Yorker
Jun 5, 2020 · Amanda Petrusich writes about the movement by K-pop stans on social media to disrupt the use of white-power hashtags during the ongoing ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[62]
Why Obsessive K-Pop Fans Are Turning Toward Political Activism
Sep 6, 2021 · “Although K-pop's message is not necessarily political in an overt sense, they are often about empowerment and self-confidence,” said the author ...
[63]
The year of the stan: How the internet's super fans went from pop ...
Dec 28, 2020 · Stans mobilized behind political and social issues in 2020, taking their cues from the public stances of the stars and celebrities they idolize.Missing: streaming | Show results with:streaming
[64]
From pop stars to politics: How the pandemic, social unrest ... - Yahoo
Dec 28, 2020 · As the election approached, stan accounts used their platforms to advocate for certain candidates. “We were actively tweeting 'vote blue,' so ...<|separator|>
[65]
Stan Twitter Community Has a Harassment Problem, Stars Are Part ...
Sep 12, 2021 · Internet mobs of pop-music fans have sent waves of harassment at critics. Sometimes they're fueled by the artists themselves. By Palmer Haasch.
[66]
The Political Activism of K-pop Stans - The Diplomat
Jul 21, 2020 · When it comes to Black Lives Matter and broader cultural appropriation in the genre, K-pop has to answer to critics that double as diehard fans.
[67]
Politics and fandom: understanding Trump and stan culture - Vox
Jan 18, 2024 · The concept of “stanning” was hugely shaped by Twitter's ability to allow fans to follow their faves in real time, commune with other fans, and ...
[68]
Taylor Swift's Matty Healy Controversy, Explained - Forbes
May 24, 2023 · Healy's appearance on The Adam Friedland Show proved particularly offensive, with the hosts doing racist impressions of how they imagined rapper ...
[69]
Matty Healy Controversy: A Timeline of His Questionable Behavior
On May 17, 2023, Taylor Swift's fans made a campaign #SpeakUpNow to raise awareness about Matty Healy's controversies and a call for him to take responsibility ...
[70]
Demanding Taylor Swift dump Matty Healy? Fan culture is out of ...
May 30, 2023 · Since it was alleged that Swift is seeing Matty Healy, the frontman of the pop band The 1975, these fans have been up in arms, cancelling orders of Swift's ...
[71]
Nicki Minaj tells long-combative Barbz 'to never threaten anyone on ...
Nov 7, 2023 · The “Barbie World” rapper asked her Barbz to cool it with the threats that have earned them a combative reputation, especially when anyone speaks ill of Minaj.Missing: intra- conflicts
[72]
Katy Perry Called Out Twitter Stan Culture For Perpetuating Drama
Aug 20, 2020 · Katy Perry called out Twitter stan culture and how people online, both fans and trolls, tend to pit female artists against each other.
[73]
Katy Perry shares frustration at being pitted against other female pop ...
Aug 21, 2020 · '[My Twitter] is like, “Who's better than who? Who's skinnier than who? Who's sold more number ones than who?”' Perry said.
[74]
Chappell Roan Confronts The Sickness Of Modern Fandom - Defector
Aug 21, 2024 · In 2022 when Mitski asked her fans not to film her concerts, much of her fan base revolted. “Every day, all the time, is exploitation,” Mitski ...
[75]
Katy Perry Criticizes Stan Culture For Pitting Women Against Each ...
Aug 21, 2020 · Katy Perry has some thoughts about how stan culture breeds toxicity, particularly for female artists.
[76]
Mitski Review: Put Your Phone Down - Coog Radio
May 8, 2022 · The online outcry for fans to stop treating artists with disrespect is indicated by the many tweets from fans who are outraged by the harassment ...
[77]
The dark side of Stan culture | RNZ
Sep 3, 2020 · A recently example of this type of harassment involved a music reviewer being threatened. In August, Taylor Swift fans harassed Pitchfork's ...
[78]
Death Threats & Stifling Dissent: Stan Culture Run Amuck
Aug 4, 2020 · This is how the Stan culture is actively stifling dissent in music journalism, and eroding the important medium of criticism in the music ...
[79]
Hardcore pop fans are abusing critics – and putting acclaim before art
Aug 3, 2020 · Taylor Swift superfans are ganging up on critics who haven't given her new album a perfect score – a symptom of a culture obsessed with quantifying our lives.
[80]
Stan Twitter: toxic fans are 'encouraged' by artists - but music stars ...
Sep 19, 2021 · Stan Twitter: toxic fans are 'encouraged' by artists - but music stars need to condemn, not enable, the angry online mobs that harass critics ...
[81]
Ariana Grande Fans Harassed A Writer After She Criticized The ...
Apr 29, 2019 · At multiple points throughout the persistent, weeklong harassment, fans used Talusan's own sexual assault against her. Talusan said she is an ...
[82]
This Writer Challenged Ariana Grande. Then Her Stans Attacked
Apr 29, 2019 · Grande isn't the only celebrity whose fan base has harassed a critic. ... Twitter account private to mitigate the harassment. And in the last ...
[83]
OPINION: Stan Culture - When Toxic Fans Go Way Too Far
Dec 7, 2022 · Stan culture is a now prevalent form of social media fandom comprising, for lack of a better term, obsessive fans on steroids.
[84]
How Critics of Nicki Minaj Are Fighting Back Against Doxxing | TIME
Feb 16, 2024 · Minaj's fans, known online as the Barbz, retaliated by doxxing him, sharing his old address and current phone number on X (formerly Twitter).
[85]
Black K-Pop Fans Are Being Doxxed & Harassed - Refinery29
Mar 24, 2021 · M is one of the many Black women who were doxxed in the past year as part of a K-pop fan-based cyber bullying spree.Missing: examples | Show results with:examples
[86]
The Underbelly Of Stan Culture: The Psychology, Legality, Of The ...
There's a spectrum of stan culture where being a fan can be harmless, but on the extreme side, it can lead to glorifying public figures to harassing and doxing.
[87]
[PDF] Defending the Public Quad: Doxxing, Campus Speech Policies, and ...
Abstract. This Essay explores how universities bound by the First Amendment can constitutionally proscribe doxxing—the malicious publication of personally ...
[88]
Effects of Online Fan Community Interactions on Well-Being and ...
The research results indicated that the intensity of online interaction with other fans has a positive and robust effect on mental well-being (β = 0.321, p < ...Missing: stan | Show results with:stan
[89]
Dari Strait – Stan Culture and its Effect on Celebrities and Fans
Jul 24, 2022 · Yes, stan communities offer a source of support and comfort for some fans, however, it can also be the source of serious harassment and bullying ...
[90]
Affective Outcomes of Membership in a Sport Fan Community - PMC
May 8, 2020 · These studies suggest that it is likely an individual's psychological well-being can increase through an association with the fan community of a ...
[91]
In Defense of Parasocial Relationships - Time Magazine
Jul 13, 2023 · Parasocial relationships can help adolescents, in particular, form an identity and develop autonomy, according to one 2017 study.
[92]
The Positives and Negatives of Parasocial Relationships
Parasocial relationships offer a simple way for people to feel connected though they may be far apart. The Negatives of Parasocial Relationships. As you can ...
[93]
The Healing Power of Pop Culture Communities | Psychology Today
Jul 17, 2024 · Participating in fandoms can provide many mental health benefits, like feeling connected with others and warding off feelings of isolation.<|separator|>
[94]
The dark side of stan culture - The Stanford Daily
Aug 23, 2021 · Parasocial relationships involve fans becoming overly attached to the content creators they watch, even going as far as viewing them as their ...
[95]
Stan culture poses more harm than good to artists, fans, music industry
Aug 18, 2024 · Stan culture continues to be just as damaging and vitriolic and must change before a new generation of talented stars and passionate fans are harmed.
[96]
Twitter stans: When celebrity fandom turns toxic - The Shorthorn
Apr 7, 2021 · A new term has been used to describe obsessive fans or “stans.” These are people who support a creator to extreme lengths, even attacking or bullying non-fans ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[97]
Twitter (X) use predicts substantial changes in well-being ... - NIH
Results revealed that Twitter use is related to decreases in well-being, and increases in political polarization, outrage, and sense of belonging.
[98]
“I'm Your Number One Fan”— A Clinical Look at Celebrity Worship
Studies also indicate that individuals with high levels of celebrity worship are more likely to have poorer mental health as well as clinical symptoms of ...Missing: benefits | Show results with:benefits
[99]
https://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2008/09/9626.html
[100]
To stan or not to stan: When fan culture turns toxic | BCM
Apr 12, 2023 · A Baylor College of Medicine expert gives insight and explains how to break harmful fandom habits.
[101]
BTS And Their Fan Army Are Rendering The Pop Charts Useless
Jun 2, 2021 · “Butter” now sits at #1. According to Billboard, no group has cranked out their first four #1 singles this quickly since the Jackson 5 did it in 1970.
[102]
Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl' shatters US sales records ...
Oct 13, 2025 · Vinyl sales reached 126,000 copies, making it the fastest-selling vinyl album this century and the highest single-week vinyl total since modern ...<|separator|>
[103]
Taylor Swift hype is boosting record store sales - Modern Retail
Sep 2, 2025 · Discogs data shows a double-digit surge in Swift vinyl sales since the announcement of her upcoming album "The Life of a Showgirl."
[104]
BTS Aren't Ruining The Billboard Charts. They Were Already Broken.
Jun 4, 2021 · To accuse BTS of ruining the pop charts is to ignore decades of foul play surrounding the Billboard charts.
[105]
Petition · Put an end to BTS' chart manipulation - Change.org
May 21, 2021 · There is strong evidence present that BTS' ARMY have made use of VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), organised mass buying parties, and set up ...<|separator|>
[106]
BTS Denies Claims of Chart "Manipulation" Tactics - E! News
Aug 26, 2021 · BTS and their talent agency are firing back at speculation that the group's fan ARMY might be trying to manipulate the music charts in their favor.
[107]
The Dark Side Of K-Pop: HYBE's Album Sales Manipulation, How ...
Oct 30, 2024 · HYBE has allegedly indulged in a new form of sajaegi aka chart manipulation to boost the first-week sales of its artists.
[108]
https://www.miragenews.com/taylor-swifts-34-showgirl-versions-boost-revenue-1555893/
[109]
Why are pop music stans always fighting about sales figures?
Dec 3, 2021 · Sometimes known as 'chart manipulation', this is often talked about as a digital trend, and it's true that social media has facilitated it ...
[110]
How Pop Music Fandom Became Sports, Politics, Religion and All ...
and its offshoots on Instagram ... They organize to win awards show polls, boost sales and raise money like ...
[111]
Why Fan Pages Are Becoming Artists' Most Useful — and Cheapest
Aug 29, 2024 · Fan pages are increasingly allowing artists and labels to flood the zone while keeping their own hands clean.
[112]
[PDF] The Economic Impact of Fan Circle Culture on the Future ...
Additionally, fan culture has created new revenue models, including fan support campaigns, membership services, fan voting, and exclusive events, all of ...
[113]
Beyond mass appeal: The untapped potential of fandom - Deloitte
Mar 20, 2024 · These committed fans are likely to have an outsized impact in terms of spend and broader hype-building.
[114]
The big business of stan culture - by Monia Ali - Fandom Exile
Oct 29, 2023 · Stan culture delivers the money, but it also delivers the tantrums and “crises of faith” that spill into culture wars and anti-fandom sentiments ...Missing: effects | Show results with:effects
[115]
Why Twitter's rebrand to X feels 'shocking' to users - BBC
Aug 1, 2023 · Many users logging onto Twitter on 23 July found a black X in the corner of their browser tab, in place of the little blue bird they were used ...
[116]
The Lights Go Down on Stan Twitter - The Atlantic
Sep 5, 2024 · Elon Musk's latest legal skirmish got X banned in Brazil, displacing many of the site's culture makers.
[117]
What Happened To Stan Twitter? How Online Fandoms Thrive
Jun 12, 2025 · In November 2024, The Guardian reported that the use of X in the US has dropped by 23 per cent since November 2022, just after the Musk takeover ...
[118]
How Bluesky rose out of Twitter's ashes to challenge X and Threads
Nov 26, 2024 · Bluesky had experienced a previous surge in July 2023 after X, then still named Twitter, temporarily limited the number of posts users could ...
[119]
What Happened To Stan Twitter? How Online Fandoms Are Thriving ...
Jun 12, 2025 · The driving force that brought these communities together came from a shared appreciation of a celebrity or celebrities,” said Dr Joanne Gray, ...Missing: 2006-2015 | Show results with:2006-2015
[120]
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/mar/26/twitter-usage-in-us-fallen-by-a-fifth-since-elon-musks-takeover
[121]
How Brazil's suspension of X is hurting 'stan Twitter' - NBC News
Sep 10, 2024 · The backbone of stan Twitter has been almost entirely silenced, an unintended casualty of Brazil's move to suspend X for defying court orders.<|separator|>
[122]
The Stan Accounts That Keep Posting Through Brazil's Ban on X
Sep 27, 2024 · When the country's Supreme Court suspended X in Brazil, stan Twitter in the region seemed to grind to a halt. Others found ways to persevere.
[123]
X (Twitter) Statistics: How Many People Use X? (2025) - Backlinko
Sep 23, 2025 · According to the latest data, X/Twitter has 132 million daily active users across iOS and Android mobile apps in June 2025, showing a 15.2% year ...
[124]
There's no X in Brazil. Celebrity fandom worldwide is in disarray
Sep 4, 2024 · En masse, celebrity stan accounts posted tearful farewells over the weekend as X was suspended in Brazil amid a showdown between Elon Musk ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[125]
Stan Twitter needs to migrate to bluesky : r/BlueskySocial - Reddit
Aug 15, 2023 · Bluesky badly needs shitposters and stans. They're the ones who generate constant flow of traffic. While people like you just lurk around not creating any ...Can stan Twitter be recreated on Bluesky? Swifties think so. - Redditthoughts and opinions on people moving to Bluesky over Twitter?More results from www.reddit.comMissing: threads | Show results with:threads
[126]
Swifties have shown us the future of Bluesky - Night Water
Nov 10, 2024 · The mass migration of Taylor Swift stans reveals the power of Bluesky's features for building community.
[127]
Thread and Bluesky Haven't Replaced Twitter — Instead, They're ...
Instead, They're Creating Decentralised Social Media. Could it all be the end of big tech social ...
[128]
Threads Maintains Growth Momentum as X and Bluesky See Slower ...
Apr 16, 2025 · Threads is seemingly on track to win out, long term, with X's growth slowing significantly, and even that growth data being somewhat questionable.Missing: music fans stans
[129]
Bluesky Reaches 38M Users, Though Post Volume Is Declining
Aug 6, 2025 · So Bluesky has gone from adding around 5 million new users per month at peak, to adding 1.6 million per month more recently. Which, again, is ...Missing: 2023-2025 | Show results with:2023-2025
[130]
Stan Twitter on Bluesky
Stan Twitter. Created Nov 20, 2024 •. 11 members. Open on bsky.app. This is where all the tea is clocked, all the houses are slayed down, and ... Follow on ...
[131]
Bluesky can learn from Twitter's early mistakes | Mashable
Nov 27, 2024 · Can stan Twitter be recreated on Bluesky? Swifties think so. Bluesky is on the verge of overtaking Threads in all the ways that matter ...