“Army” and Social Media Echo Chambers: The Case of Yogyakarta-Based BTS Fans’ Social Dynamics

Abstract

The ARMY fan community utilizes the X platform as a communication tool to foster solidarity and unity. However, this phenomenon facilitates a phenomenon that limits people in the community to other viewpoints. Users are more likely to connect with people of similar views when community cohesion is founded on shared interests. The purpose of this study is to investigate the construction and use of these small spaces in the social dynamics of Yogyakarta’s ARMY fandom. Data were collected through interviews and analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach and thematic analysis. For this purpose, the informants consist of BTS fans (ARMY), who utilize X and are based in Yogyakarta. Based on their experiences, this study examines how echo chambers emerge and are constructed socially within the contexts of a fan group. There are five analytical themes as main findings, including Identity Formation, Digital Fandom Practices on X, Social Dynamics, Information Credibility, and Trending Topics Among the Community. Echo chambers are constructed through several characteristics, including a sense of belonging, the dominance of X platform use, discourse homogeneity, internal regulation, and efficient information verification. In Yogyakarta, ARMY members employ these mechanisms to shield the fandom from external criticism or negative narratives that might harm the group. Furthermore, participants reinforce these boundaries to create a controlled ecosystem to regulate the flow of information about their idols. The functioning of these echo chambers proves efficient, adaptive, and sustainable, which then brings solutions for coordinated collective action.