What becomes of Fandom Twitter in the age of misinformation?

Now that anyone can buy a blue checkmark, who do we even trust anymore?

Over the weekend, I was watching Seventeen’s “Follow” concert in Seoul online when I noticed I couldn’t send Twitter DMs anymore. 

“You’ve hit the maximum limit for direct messages in a single day. Sign up for Twitter Blue to continue messaging.” 

Social media has been an important part in keeping touch with my K-pop friends, as we send memes and reactions to each other over DMs. Being the chronically online person that I am, it felt like I had lost a part of my connection to the world. 

It’s not the first time I’ve been put in some sort of Twitter jail before. A couple weeks before, the social media site alerted me that I had also reached my “rate limit” and couldn’t view more tweets on the site. Unverified accounts were only allowed to read 600 posts per day, whereas verified accounts have access to up to 6,000 posts per day. To my understanding, that rate limit has since increased.

(I now count myself among the former blue checkmarks who have also become automatically unverified.)

Twitter has been an essential part of my job since I started journalism school more than 10 years ago. But beyond that, it‘s been a tool for me to take part in fandom culture, and even get information on my favourite artists and translations from dedicated fans. 

These days I’m unclear on what the purpose of Twitter holds anymore.

Days after my Twitter DM debacle, Twitter’s new owner Elon Musk rebranded the website with a simple X, marking the death of the famous blue bird we have long associated Twitter with. 

“X is the future state of unlimited interactivity – centered in audio, video, messaging, payments/banking – creating a global marketplace for ideas, goods, services, and opportunities. Powered by AI, X will connect us all in ways we’re just beginning to imagine,” posted Twitter’s (or X’s?) CEO Linda Yaccarino.

Huh? Banking?

Much has already been reported about Twitter’s changes, so I will save you from the big explanations. Though it has gotten me wondering where fans will now turn to get up-to-date information, let alone communicate with online friends/mutuals anymore.

I’ve long worried about the spread of misinformation, rumours and toxic behaviour on Twitter before Musk decided to buy it. Mob mentality happens in many forms on the social media site, and unfortunately fandoms are not immune to it.

There are innocuous things like Jimin’s rumoured appearance at the MET Gala that ended up not being true. Somehow, news of his invite (as reported on some major outlets) ended up making its way around Twitter. Users took “invite” to mean that Jimin was actually going to show up. He didn’t.

This is an example why we shouldn’t believe everything on social media. But who can I blame, really? I unfortunately fell into the hype too :/

But then there are much worse things that have happened, in which fans have attacked and bullied journalists just for doing their jobs. It’s one thing to offer thoughtful and nuanced criticism on reporting. Though to my disappointment, I’ve seen fans questioning why major publications don’t just ask the fans to interview their faves. There are SO MANY issues that can come with that. Lack of accountability and bias are among them. It takes skills and training to do the proper research and think critically. Not just anyone can write an article. And that often gets lost in translation over social media.

The issues here are beyond what fans can do. Newsrooms all around the world have been shuttering, and entertainment reporting jobs have been decreasing as a result. So where else are people to go other than social media sites like Twitter to get the information they need?

Fandom culture has always relied on fan labour to spread updates. There is no way I would be as updated on the comings and goings of BTS and Seventeen without fan aggregated content and translations. These days, anyone can be a blogger and anyone can buy a Twitter Blue badge to be verified. Anyone can “report” anything!

Not everyone knows to double/triple source where information comes from before clicking that retweet button. And as a result, this is how misinformation can spread.

Twitter has offered so much to me as a K-pop fan from long-lasting friendships, laughs to getting up-to-date news on my faves. I no longer post as much as I used to, and I increasingly see less and less incentive to stay. I stay online because of the connections I’ve been able to gain.

It goes without saying that Twitter should never be the only place you find out about the news. But unfortunately, it is still the only way many people consume information. I’ve long worried about the state of media literacy — especially when it comes to fans who just want to support their favourite idols.

I fear Twitter’s new changes will only make it worse.

---

Concrete Utopia among the big East Asian films coming to Toronto International Film Festival

The ongoing Hollywood strikes have added uncertainty to film festival season, which often arrives around the beginning of September.

From Venice, Telluride to TIFF, the current writers and actors strikes have banned working writers and actors from walking red carpets and doing interviews about past and current projects (unless they’re independent films/TV).

Here in Toronto, TIFF has often served as an awards season predictor and stargazer’s dream. But with a big question mark about who will actually be able to show up, now might be the time to check out some great international titles.

One of the films I’m excited for is the South Korean disaster film Concrete Utopia, which stars big names including Lee Byung-hun, Park Bo-young and Park Seo-joon! It is unclear whether Park Seo-joon will be able to come to Toronto with his upcoming role in The Marvels. But considering this is a South Korean production, maybe there’s a loophole?

Check out the full list of films currently announced at this year’s TIFF. It is often one of my favourite events of the year. The festival will run from September 7th to 17th.

Seventeen’s Seungkwan to star in the survival reality show The Devil’s Plan

Seungkwan will be joining the cast of the Netflix show The Devil’s Plan. The survival reality series will feature 12 players from various occupations (from celebrities, lawyer, doctor and professional Go player) to compete for a prize of ₩500 million won (approximately $519,562.58 Canadian dollars).

The contestants will be in a week-long camp where they’ll test their limits through fierce mind-bending games to find the final winner and be crowned as the brainiest player.

Knowing how witty and funny Seungkwan is, I cannot wait to see how he does on this show!

Seungkwan, who is currently taking leave for his health, recently sat out on Seventeen’s recent concerts this past weekend. I am wishing him all the very best on his recovery.

BTS’s Jimin receives Ken’s guitar

Last week, Ryan Gosling offered an acoustic guitar from the movie Barbie to Jimin as an apology gift for “biting another Ken’s style.” The Ken actor wore the same outfit in Barbie as Jimin in the “Permission To Dance” music video.

Now because Gosling’s Ken is the gift that keeps on giving…Jimin has now responded!

“Hi Ryan and hi Ken, it’s Jimin,” he said while holding the guitar from the movie.

“Congrats on your big release. My fans are excited to see your video so thank you so much. I could see that you look great in my outfit.”

“Thank you for this guitar. I really love it and I look forward to watching Barbie,” the BTS member added.

---

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Accountability is important to me, so please address corrections and concerns by sending me an email at bunnipopnewsletter@gmail.com. Continue the conversation by following Bunni Pop on Instagram and Twitter.