Online Communities: Swifties

Okay, laugh at me... I'm a Swiftie. Many people describe it as cringe and at one point I did too. That is until I listened to a few songs and paid attention to Taylor's storytelling. Taylor Swift's writing definitely got my attention, but so did the online community. 

Swifties are found at all corners of the internet, from Tumblr to Twitter! I personally interact with the group through Instagram. What's interesting is that though Swifties are spread out across all kinds of platforms they keep each other updated and are supportive of each other. So even though I use Instagram I also know what's going on in the Twitter world. That is why I consider them a community. For a community to exist I believe there needs to be interaction and a common belief or idea. Within this community are very strong examples of interaction. Swifties have their own inside jokes, acronyms, and arguments. When I scroll through the gram I understand what someone would mean by clowns, twfhitf, snakes, and calcium hydroxide. What's even cooler is that even Taylor Swift herself is part of the online community. She often stalks stan accounts and likes and replies to posts. She's also gone as far as to reach out to fans through DMs to send them money for college or invite them to her house for secret sessions of unreleased music. 

In short, the communication that takes place between us Swifties through Instagram is what makes me consider them a community.