Who's Really Leading the Cheer? Fans or Stars?

Ever wondered who's really calling the shots in spreading national pride online? A deep dive into Chinese social media shows that fans, not celebrities, are the real trendsetters. Over 8 million posts and comments were scanned using smart tech to sort out the chatter. The surprising find? Fans have more sway over stars than the other way around. It turns out, fans are the ones setting the tone for nationalistic messages. Celebrities just pick up on what's already popular. This is especially true for fans who lean towards certain political views. So, in the battle of who influences who, the crowd is winning. This flips the script on how we think about nationalism online. It's not just the big names driving the conversation. Everyday people in online communities are the real powerhouses. This is a big deal, especially in places where the government has a strong hold. So next time you see a trending patriotic post, remember, it might not have started with the famous faces. It could be the fans pulling the strings.