Perception of Digital Activities Within NCT Fans That Affect Fanatic Behavior

Abstract

The Korean music culture has become a significant phenomenon in today’s era. Many agencies produce and debut new idol groups widely acclaimed works. This has led to the global expansion of fandoms. Simultaneously, technology of digital platforms in today’s era also grows rapidly. Those digital platforms’ new features provide users with diverse functionalities. Fandom uses digital platforms for various activities. These activities have significant impacts, both positive or even negative. This research will be carried out using qualitative method. Purposive sampling is employed to obtain relevant informants as the primary data source for this research. To gather additional data, this research will also apply snowball sampling to obtain further evidence from other informants. To complete the research, six informants were involved in this research to provide statements related to the research topic. This study examines fans’ perceptions of fandom and digital activities in the context of idol culture, revealing that while digital platforms facilitate entertainment, social interaction, and creative expression, fans' perceptions are influenced by factors such as audio-visual content, personal background, and social environment, and although these platforms offer valuable tools for engagement, they also present challenges like enabling fanaticism, emphasizing the need for responsible digital behavior and awareness of online actions' lasting impact within fandom communities.