Social Media, Communities, & Networks Conference 2026: Semester 1 & SP1

Comments

One response to “K-pop Fan Communities on TikTok: Interaction, Algorithms and Imitation – Uwesh Shaikh”

1. 

   22934013

   01/05/2026

   Hi Uwesh,
   I really enjoyed your presentation. Your examples were engaging and your explanation of TikTok’s affordances and fandom culture was clear and well-structured, especially through your One Direction case study.

   Question 1
   You explained how TikTok’s algorithm strengthens connections within fandoms by promoting high-engagement content. Do you think this mainly reinforces existing fandom communities, or also plays a role in expanding them by exposing new audiences to fandom content? How significant do you think this is in shaping the growth of fandoms over time?

   Question 2
   You discussed features like hashtags and tagging as ways content spreads across TikTok. How do you think the public nature of commenting and tagging shapes the way fans interact compared to more private forms of sharing? Do you think this creates a more performative style of participation within fandoms?

   Question 3
   You highlighted how fan edits and new content keep fandoms active and evolving. How do you think creating and sharing these edits influences relationships within the community? For example, does it strengthen connections between fans, or can it also create hierarchies based on visibility, creativity, or engagement?

   Reply