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

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One response to “More Than Fans: How BTS ARMY Uses TikTok’s Affordances to Build Community and Take Action By Megan Rubie”

1. 

   Lilly

   01/05/2026

   Hi Meg, your presentation was very visually appealing and super easy to follow! I enjoyed it. Here are the three questions for you.

   Q.1)
   You argued that TikTok’s affordances actively shape BTS ARMY’s community. Do you think ARMY has, or would have, the same level of collective power across different social media platforms, such as Instagram or YouTube? Why or why not?

   Q.2)
   In your presentation, you showed how BTS ARMY moved from everyday fan practices, such as sharing content, using hashtags, duets, stitches, and participating in TikTok trends, to a more organised form of political action through the 2020 Trump rally disruption.

   Can fan activism still be considered fandom, or does it become something different when it moves into politics? Where do you think the line is between being a fan community and becoming a political force?

   Q.3)
   You used Zulli’s idea of mimetic participation to explain how BTS ARMY members recreate dances, remix fan edits, and use TikTok features like duets and stitches to perform a sense of belonging. Do you think this copying and remixing creates genuine connections between fans, or is it more about gaining visibility and engagement through TikTok’s algorithm?

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