ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how K-pop stans and Taylor Swift/Swifties have emerged as decentralised yet influential actors in digital activism. Drawing on the concepts of affective publics and participatory culture, it explores how fan communities mobilise around racial justice, environmental causes, and electoral politics. These fans are not merely passive consumers but active participants who shape digital discourse and intervene in political processes. The online environment empowers these communities to expand their reach, using digital literacy and tech-savvy skills to engage in agile, coordinated action across platforms. Fans transform cultural engagement into civic participation and resistance by using tactics such as hashtag hijacking, humorous interventions, and platform manipulation. Their activism is often driven by a strong emotional attachment to artists, collective identity, and a desire to protect marginalised groups or challenge dominant narratives. While their interventions are emotionally powerful and digitally effective, they are also volatile, issue-specific, and frequently tied to celebrity narratives. This raises critical questions about sustainability, co-option, and the long-term political impact of fandom-led activism in an increasingly polarised environment.
