Why Fangirl Spaces Still Matter in the Age of the Algorithm

Long before the internet was even dreamt of, fangirl spaces had existed. So why do they matter now more than ever?

The first beat made with two rocks likely received a positive reaction, followed by discussions, paintings on cave walls, and a longing for more. Saloons, bars, and the first international concert would have influenced a group of fangirls to come together and discuss the music and artistry on display, once again with a fresh hunger for more. The invention of radio and TV helped expand the reach of musical artists, naturally creating fangirl spaces in homes and communal spaces, removing the need for fans to be directly in front of their idols.

And for years, this worked well. Fangirls could meet up in person, gather in front of the TV and steadily build up the reputation of artists- prioritising genuine community over scale and monetisable attention. This level of socialising was only enhanced by the introduction of the internet, making fangirl spaces even more accessible in the smallest corners of the vast digital universe.

Throughout the years, we have seen numerous artists use social media and websites to build their fan base. Still, we have also seen digital platforms curated for artists that existed before the internet, keeping their legacies alive for generations to come. Without fangirls’ niche corners of the web, which welcome different cultures, opinions, and exploration, music may never have been shared in the way we know today. Even in this fast-developing era of doom-inducing news, overconsumption of products, and AI, the raw authenticity of the human experience is still such a vital part of both the online and outside world. It is becoming increasingly harder for fangirls to shout and scream our genuine love for artists past the walls of advertisements and forced engagement, but it is that fight to engage with the art of music that keeps us relevant in this age of algorithms. 

Before Digital Dominated

Since before the internet, we saw fangirls influence the rise of key figures in music, like Elvis, The Beatles, and Queen. Of course, there was radio and TV influence, but without anyone to listen to and actively celebrate their music, their impact would not have made such strides in the industry. Elvis Presley was a man with a unique talent and voice. Having only been heard on the radio in the early days of his career, his appearance was left up to interpretation. Questions were asked about his true ethnicity and place of birth. Despite his initial hidden identity, he was being listened to and very quickly gained fangirls. It was this fanbase, calling the radio stations with their enquiries following his first audio appearance, that encouraged his first talk show interview and set up his long-standing legacy as Elvis. Even when he risked completely fading into obscurity with the rise of other artists and his own struggles with fame, he was still talked about and fangirled over.

Fangirls still had his posters up on their bedroom walls, his records playing at key moments in their lives; his unique take on the rock and roll genre feeding into other styles of music. Loyal and dedicated fans longed for the day he would bounce back and rock the stage again. And when he ultimately did, his original fans flocked to the front of the stage with more, newer fans in tow. His music gave something to the world, and in return, his legacy has been kept alive by old and new fans, sharing their antique merch and concert stories. It is those stories that feature on blogs and websites on the internet today that allow newer generations to discover the impact his music had on society.

During Elvis’s reign as King of Rock and Roll, The Beatles were making history as one of the first UK rock bands to achieve global appeal and win the hearts of many during the 1960s.

Their music fused multicultural sounds and instruments that attracted fans across the world. A key turning point in their career was their appearance on US television, which took their reach outside of the UK and created a fanbase phenomenon labelled Beatlemania. Although this term could have negative connotations to the fangirls of The Beatles, it introduced an entirely new era of Rock, Roll and Blues to the US, and with that a genuine community of fans who would play a huge part in their legacy. We see today movies, documentaries, and books based on their story, written and directed by fans of their music. Before the help from digital algorithms and engagement metrics, fans were protecting The Beatles’ story through organic methods like books, newspaper articles, and in-person fan meets.

An example of a band that did not have a conventional fan space compared to Elvis or The Beatles but still had an important impact on a range of communities and underrepresented individuals, was Queen.

Freddie Mercury’s lyrics, style and stage presence showed underrepresented communities that it was okay to be perceived as different, as well as make a difference to a powerful industry. Their legacy lies with their fight for change, from their Live Aid performance to performing in a country that at the time was built on controversial values. Of course, that genuine passion from Queen to create a community drove fangirl spaces during the 1970s to become the positive banner for the band wherever they went. Following Freddie Mercury’s passing, it was fans of Queen who fundraised and supported AIDS charities in his name, showing that fangirl spaces don’t just promote an artist, but an artist’s values. Without the dedicated spaces within charities and underrepresented communities, Queen may never have seen how their efforts in creating a unique sound and stage presence reached the places it did.

Having explored how fangirl spaces existed before the revolutionary change the internet brought to keeping music alive, we can already see that without fangirls and their dedication to their favourite artists we would not know anything about these talented individuals who simply loved making music and performing.

Moving into the Digital Era

Since the public introduction to the internet in the early 90s, we have seen an admirable spike in fangirl spaces, discovered in forums, group chats, independent sites, and the rapidly growing social media. Never before has the beating heart of fans been so accessible globally. Whereas before, artists relied on fans watching TV, listening to the radio, and flying across countries to stay updated on their favourite bands, we can now see instant updates on social media, an artist’s new single used as background audio, and singles streamed on at least three different music channels. The biggest artists we see in the modern age used the internet to spread their musical talent, and fangirls reacted immediately to them, organically sharing, commenting, and fangirling over their content.

But with the rapid growth of website and app traffic through organic human use, we have opened up a can of digital worms that has recently shifted the focus from genuine community towards unnatural scale and monetisation of fan attention.

Although engagement metrics are great for fangirl spaces to remain well funded, the existence of an algorithm that prioritises adverts, overconsumption, and AI has changed how these spaces use their platforms for meaningful connection.

A Life Played Out on Social Media

The early 2000s saw YouTube for the first time, a platform strictly for ease of video sharing. It quickly became a huge part of the internet for content creators to develop their fangirl communities and build large followings for long or short-form content. It also became a base for musical artists to gain fan loyalty and further their careers.

Justin Bieber was one of the first artists to showcase his talent on YouTube, ultimately gathering a significant fangirl base before being discovered by large corporations.

Twitter (now known as X) also saw a spike in usage where fans used the platform to see and report live updates on his success.

This was one of the first moments where fangirl spaces would pitch up their niche tents in the corners of large platforms, providing a safe haven for people to settle into on their internet hikes.

Tumblr also became prevalent around the same time, a space where fans could use microblogging features, as well as image and video sharing, to discuss their favourite artists. Icons like Halsey used these unique features for reach to grow her digital fanbase, thus growing into the influential artist she is today.

One vital skill that fangirl spaces have is the ability to migrate to other platforms should one no longer serve their agenda. Shawn Mendes found recognition through Vine, which favoured quick, short-form content that could immediately grab the attention of fangirls looking for their next idol. This method allowed reach and engagement to generate much faster – one viral Vine for most made them online celebrities overnight.

Where Community Leaders Fall Down

Reach and engagement have become a global goal to have in online communities, and it’s not a bad goal to have for messages that make a difference to fangirls’ lives. Engagement was born from fangirl spaces organically sharing, commenting and liking to show their genuine love for an artist. However, this skill that is able to bring together loving communities is also being used as a way to influence monetisable attention over authenticity.

We see this in the way trending news and celebrity gossip are typically found at the top of pages and newsfeeds, and users being exposed to these things brings it more to the forefront of fans who just want a pleasurable social media scroll. That’s not to say trending audio used on platforms like TikTok have not benefitted artists like PeachPRC, Hemlock Springs and Pink Pantheress. But the evident fight for fangirl spaces to survive in a heavily algorithmically dominated digital space is something none of us could have predicted.

However, one thing is clear: fangirl spaces have been here since the beginning. We have seen the reach fangirls have accomplished for artists before the age of algorithms, and how platforms are being expertly used to collaborate with fans across the globe. Community and support have always been at the heart of what we do and if there is anything we can do through independent websites, forums, and niche social corners, it’s to show the world some love through something real.