Behavior and Identity Construction of Online Fan Community—Taking Pocket 48 as an Example

Abstract

With the development of new media, online social platforms have gradually emerged and improved, greatly changing the interaction between idols and fans, and even between fans and fans. This article takes Pocket 48, an exclusive derivative application of the SNH48 idol group, as an example to explore the fan groups’ interactive behavior and identity construction. Through participant observation and in-depth interviews with 15 fans, the study found that fans’ interactions on the Pocket 48 platform not only significantly enhanced their emotional connection with their idols, but also experienced gradual development in self-expression and identity. process. Through long-term interaction and participation, fans’ emotional investment in idols and communication with other fans continue to deepen, gradually forming a solid identity. This research provides a new perspective for understanding the progressiveness and complexity of modern social media in individual identity construction, revealing how online communities influence users’ identity development through continuous interaction mechanisms.