China's state media CCTV speaks out against 'malicious fandom'

The Chinese authority has been regulating the entertainment industry and most recently state media CCTV has lashed out at fan clubs and their behaviour. 

In a report from the South China Morning Post, China’s state broadcaster CCTV heavily criticised fan clubs and the “malicious fandom" culture again, exploring the hierarchy and behaviour of fan clubs. For example, people within a fandom circle have different tasks, including the small part of them being “fan heads” who assign other people to increase their idols’ exposure and encourage consumption. Moreover, the fan heads have contacts with celebrities' agencies and have more access to their schedules, enabling them to meet the celebrities at the airport and take their photos.

The fan heads have some duties too. For example, they need to update news about the celebrities to attract fans and try to get the celebrities’ information out to the public. They also crowdsource funds for several activities, such as holding birthday celebrations for the celebrities, buying them presents or digital albums.

Meanwhile, some fans were even encouraged to consume and created conflicts online, attacking other celebrities online or asking other people to attack other stars.

The programme interviewed a fan, who said some platforms even encouraged fans to buy digital magazines featuring their favourite celebrities' essays, pictures and videos. Fans were also told that buying up a certain number of products could help their idols look good, so some of them will buy hundreds of copies to boost sales. The CCTV programme said although fandom used to be a neutral word, a distorted fandom culture can create enormous harm.

The programme is the latest move from the Chinese authority to crack down on the entertainment industry in China. Earlier this month, in a notice issued by the National Radio and Television Administration, the authority will crack down on several areas including effeminate male idols and flaunting wealth.

The notice said it requires broadcasters to ban "deformed" tastes such as "sissy idols" who do not conform to macho or masculine male stereotypes prevalent in traditional Chinese culture. It also required a ban on flaunting wealth, vulgar influencers and gossips. In the same section "boycotting being overly entertaining", the notice said there should have been more emphasis on traditional Chinese culture, revolution culture, socialist culture that they will help establish a correct beauty standard.

The notice required broadcasters and online video and audio platforms to cautiously select guests and actors or actresses. Political literacy, moral conduct, artistry and comments from the public should be selection criteria.

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