Fandom and freedom fighters: The role of pop fandom activism in fundraising for Myanmar’s revolution delves into the influential role of pop culture-fandoms in supporting Myanmar’s post-coup revolution, through fundraising activities primarily conducted on social media platforms, notably Facebook. The study argues that these fandoms contribute to societal transformation in Myanmar, given the scope and scale of their fundraising endeavors.
By Nway and Htaike
MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 23
Abstract
This study examines the role of pop fandom activism in supporting Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement following the 2021 military coup. Drawing on qualitative methods, including digital ethnography and interviews with twelve fandom page administrators, the research explores how fan communities originally centred on cultural interests in figures such as BTS, Blackpink, and Daung mobilized to engage in political fundraising, awareness campaigns, and digital advocacy. These communities utilized their existing structures to organize donation drives, create monetized content, and coordinate social media campaigns, thereby contributing both materially and symbolically to the resistance movement. Through a conceptual framework grounded in Social Identity Theory, Collective Social Identity, and Social Movement Theory, the study demonstrates how shared identity and group cohesion facilitated a rapid transition from entertainment to activism. Key findings indicate that fandoms effectively navigated platform censorship, surveillance, and security threats by adopting encrypted communication, pseudonyms, and discreet fundraising methods. Their efforts were sustained by a strong sense of collective purpose, emotional connection to idol values, and a desire for non-violent contribution. The research concludes that fandom activism in Myanmar
represents a significant, under-recognized form of grassroots resistance. Recommendations include enhanced digital security training, systematic archiving practices, and stronger collaboration between fandoms and established activist networks to support democratic movements in restrictive environments.
Keywords: activism, fandom, ethnography, sociology, digital activism, advocacy, grassroots movement, digital safety, democracy
This Myanmar Digital Research paper was produced for the Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar (K4DM) initiative, with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and with support from The SecDev Foundation. Views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of either organization.
Over the next two years, over twenty papers in the Myanmar Digital Research series will have researchers within and in the Myanmar diaspora exploring how the digital world is shaping their social, political and economic crisis, bringing new insights into issues facing Myanmar citizens. See below for others available now.