Fandom culture: Why there are millions of clicks on AO3

A fandom, for those who don’t know, is “a group of fans of someone or something, especially very enthusiastic ones,” according to the Cambridge Dictionary.

Fandom culture is not just a modern spectacle. In fact, according to Fanlore, “the practice of making fanzines originated in science fiction fandom in the 1930s, when they were called fanmags.”

Arguably, one of the largest contributors to fandom culture is fanfiction, sometimes called “fanfic”. Fanfiction is such a foundation in fandom culture because many people form personal bonds with characters in their favorite shows. These fictional characters reflect parts of ourselves that are hard to describe. Fans become attached to the characters, making it hard when shows end, especially if they are cancelled.

That’s why so many people turn to fanfiction — to make these storylines continue. Anyone can add in details or plots to an already existing universe that they believed needed to be there, but just weren’t.

The most popular platform for reading fanfiction is Archive of Our Own (AO3), one of the largest fan-run archives. The site was launched in 2009 by the Organization for Transformative Works with the intention of being an uncensored archive. Since it’s an archive, it isn’t driven by commercial desires and doesn’t contain an algorithm, meaning anyone can post whatever they want. Users find what they want to read based on specific searches rather than on what an algorithm shows them.

After the Stranger Things finale on Dec. 31 2025, the fandom rose in popularity on fanfiction sites. Besides that, the most popular fandoms on AO3 include Harry Potter (specifically The Marauders), Star Wars, Marvel and DC.

Like anything on the internet, fandom culture has good aspects as well as bad. Participating can create a sense of community and introduce you to people online that you would not have met otherwise. This culture can also provide a creative outlet.

The less-than-ideal parts of fandom culture can include toxic environments, cyberbullying, and, oftentimes, unrealistic expectations or problematic fan projects. Some such fan projects are stories depicting violence, abuse or toxic relationships.

However, fanfiction can be a safe area in fandom culture because you do not have to engage in any parts of it that do not appeal to you. Fans may also seek fanfiction due to the perceived low production values or the cancellation of their favorite shows. When Netflix canceled its series “Shadow and Bone,” fans voiced their anger and frustration. Under Leigh Bardugo’s post announcing her thoughts on the cancellation, fans commented in support of her disappointment that her books’ adaptation was being canceled.

“Can’t say I’m surprised. Netflix can’t recognize a fantastic show even if it slaps them across the face. I hope another streaming service or network picks these projects up,” said one fan under her post, according to Hindustan Times.

Through similar passions, a community forms from fandom culture. Although the general public perceives fanfiction as “low-brow,” the creative outlet is a way for fans to connect and create community.

There can be a lot of embarrassment surrounding actively indulging in fanfiction. However, not everyone sees it this way.

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“You might feel embarrassed now, but based on the millions of clicks across websites like Wattpad, Archive of Our Own (AO3) and Fanfiction.net, you have no reason to be,” Grace Kim with The Student Life wrote in an article.

People keep coming back to fanfiction because it offers long-form storytelling that often isn’t available in the original media. “The characters always somehow feel more real, even when they are [original characters] and not already well-known canon characters. I think fanfic utilizes the stream-of-consciousness style of storytelling much better, allowing us to really see the innermost, most intimate thoughts of the characters, but in a way that doesn't drag the story,” according to user Jaded_Advantage_290 on Reddit.

There are stories for almost everything, and it is pretty easy to find what you want with the filtering or tagging systems. Tagging on AO3, “allows users to tag their content with any tag of their choosing, and users can see all works using any given tag,” according to the Organization for Transformative Works.

Fanfiction can also provide diversity in the stories that often aren’t present in mainstream media. This can be found in people creating LGBTQ+ ships, aka fan-supported romantic pairings, that the creators of the original piece of media would not have given any thought to.

Fanfiction is a legitimate form of creative expression. It offers a low-stakes way for writers to experiment, grow and share their stories with others. Although it is often dismissed or treated with embarrassment and shame, millions of works reach global audiences. Rather than being seen as lesser, fanfiction should be recognized as a powerful entry point into writing, where creativity can grow.

chaffele@miamioh.edu