Week 5: Digital Community and Fandom: Reality TV Case Study -> Why do reality TV fandoms become so intense online?
Because fans become attracted to the contestants and become engrossed in the drama, relationships, and competition itself, reality TV fandoms frequently become contentious on the internet. A typical story's characters are only fictional, while reality TV participants speak "real languages" to make viewers feel as though they are a part of the action. It's also possible to claim that viewers engage with them similarly to how they do with their friends. Parasocial interaction is the term used by Horton and Wohl (1956) to describe this one-sided emotional engagement with media characters.
However, a fan's part in viewing a reality show has become much more active thanks to platforms like Tumblr, TikTok, Instagram, and X. They make memes, GIFs, fan edits, reaction pieces, and speculations in addition to merely watching the show.
In addition to watching the information, they are also producing it, which strengthens the ties between the online communities that revolve around the reality shows. Jenkins (2006) refers to this as "participatory culture," in which viewers become co-creators of the media rather than merely passive consumers.
Single Inferno's 5 (Korea reality show)
Love island (USA reality show)
One thing that truly sets Love Island and Single's Inferno apart is that viewers actively discuss the decisions, relationships, and behaviours of the characters rather than passively watching them. When viewers strongly object to certain activities depicted in the show, this frequently results in intense fan fights, online support campaigns, or even cancel culture.
Furthermore, the short-form content on TikTok and Tumblr helps reality TV maintain its popularity long after the episodes have already aired. A live experience is enhanced by the extensive sharing of clips and fan conversations.
References (APA 7th Edition)
Horton, D., & Wohl, R. R. (1956). Mass communication and para-social interaction: Observations on intimacy at a distance. Psychiatry, 19(3), 215–229. https://doi.org/10.1080/00332747.1956.11023049
Jenkins, H. (2006). Convergence culture: Where old and new media collide. New York University Press.
