Swiss Fan Worlds and social exclusion

This project aims to explore how children and young people (CYP) engaged in fan worlds perceive and experience online risks, develop social and emotional capacities, and implement coping strategies in digital spaces. The research is built on five main hypotheses: (1) CYP in fan worlds experience higher levels of online risks due to their deep engagement with multiple platforms, (2) fan worlds encourage broader definitions of acceptable online behavior, potentially normalizing risky or harmful interactions, (3) fan worlds provide CYP with high levels of social support, enhancing their emotional and informational resources, (4) fan spaces foster greater empathy through shared emotional experiences, and (5) CYP develop advanced, functional coping strategies to handle online risks and harms, strategies that are transferable across online environments. These goals aim to exceed the state of the art by addressing the under-researched area of CYP in fan worlds, offering insight into how these unique digital communities influence young people's experiences of online risks and social behaviors, and advancing understanding of how fan engagement shapes coping mechanisms in online spaces. The project’s research design utilizes a mixed-methods approach, combining grounded theory and ethnographic observation with quantitative data collection through standardized questionnaires. The dual nature of online and offline observations allows for a comprehensive exploration of CYP’s engagement in fan worlds, ensuring diverse data collection across fan conventions and structured online fan groups in multiple languages. Creative methods, such as participant-aided sociograms and diary studies, will involve participants in reflexive processes to uncover hidden aspects of their online experiences. A total of 170 hours of offline/online observations, 12 diary study, 24 trace interviews and 200 questionnaires are planned. The implementation involves two phases: In phase one, observations at 8 fan conventions in Switzerland and online fan group monitoring will focus on identifying fan worlds and understanding how CYP perceive risks, define acceptable behavior, and find social support. These observations will be complemented by questionnaires targeting empathy, social support and coping strategies. Phase two will deepen these insights with diary studies following selected participants for 30 days to document everyday interactions and experiences with online risks. Trace interviews will be conducted to allow participants to interpret their online activity. By considering both the risks and benefits of participation in fan worlds, the research aims to move beyond traditional understandings of online risk exposure and instead highlights how young people may navigate these environments with resilience. Data analysis will be performed continuously using qualitative coding and statistical methods to identify patterns across the data collected. Grounded theory will allow the generation of insights directly from the experiences of CYP, while standardized instruments like the standardized questionnaires will provide quantitative measures of social and emotional capacities. The research will also be contributing to the development of educational strategies and tools to help educators, institutions, and parents understand how CYP engage with online risks and harms within fan spaces. This understanding will support the creation of more effective digital self-defense programs and awareness campaigns, grounded in the coping mechanisms CYP develop in these environments. This study represents the first systematic exploration of fan worlds created by CYP in Switzerland, offering important theoretical contributions to the fields of fan studies and youth digital media. It also responds to calls for further research on how young people navigate online risks and harms, particularly in spaces characterized by deep emotional engagement and social connectivity.