A fandom is a group of people bound by a common, collective interest in a specific television show, book series, movie franchise, game, comic book company, etc. A previously widespread idea about fandom membership painted the picture of 14 and 15-year-old emo girls on Tumblr (which is not fully incorrect). But as these niche corners of internet community have become more mainstream, it’s clear that’s not the case – which is great for people whose friends used to look at them weird (like me).

The best thing about fandom is that if you look for it, you will find it.

There are literally communities everywhere (with growing percentages of people who look like you) obsessed with the very thing that you are obsessed with. Are you a Potterhead (fan of Harry Potter)? There’s a place for you. Did you just become a Whovian (fan of Dr. Who)? Here you go. And there’s an entire live-tweet community with their own alternate hashtags waiting for you to hop in the conversation when it’s show time.

Sometimes fandoms even live on long after the subject matter that bonds them is over and done. Gilmore Girls stayed relevant for many dedicated fans all the way from the time the show finished until it’s revival in 2015. Gilmore Guys, the deep and analytical podcast that breaks down the show episode by episode, has gotten so big over time that they’ve taken their show on the road for a live tour. The Fifty Shades of Grey book trilogy, adapted to film, was born from a Twilight fan fiction series. Fandom could literally make you rich.

But don’t be intimidated, fandoms are for fun.

There’s always going to be a few bad dragon eggs in every dozen. Some fandom members don’t want to play nice, or a few salty “real fans” will try to be bullies because you don’t know how to find the Room of Requirement. Don’t sweat it. Most people in the fandom have dealt with this kind of witch or wizard many times before and know how to make sure they’re sent to Azkaban with no hope of return (see what I did there?).

So, go find your tribe.

Fandoms will 100 percent enhance your show/book/game experience by miles and bounds. In fact, whether it’s fan art (of black Hermione), gif sets, fan fiction, or even just good old fashioned plot theory threads, fandoms themselves churn out more content a day than their subject matter ever will.

If you knew all of this already, then great, hopefully you’re part of a fandom you love. If you didn’t and thought fandoms were for weirdos, then you were really hating, bruh (but now you know better). Sign up for Tumblr. Go become a member of that fan site. Start tweeting with that special hashtag. Read a fanfic or two. You won’t regret it.

guide to internet fandom — Photo: Tumblr

The best thing about fandom is that if you look for it, you will find it.

But don’t be intimidated, fandoms are for fun.

So, go find your tribe.

What show/book/movie/game are you a huge fan of? Let me know in the comments, let’s talk about it.

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