At the young and ripe age of 10, my fourth-grade self had discovered the internet and most importantly, boy bands. I vividly remember this day: I was on YouTube when the ''What Makes You Beautiful" music video was on my recommended. That was the beginning of the past 8 years of my fan life. There was an immediate attraction toward them. The music, the boys, and the story of their start left such a huge resounding impact on me. Next thing I knew, I was pulled into the world of fangirls. And it was definitely a scary world.
Their fanbase was a completely different thing from what I've ever known. It was online. It was intense. It was crazy. There was a whole other culture online that not many know. Yet, the fact that it was all based on a boy band made it even more unreal. One Direction's fan base gets credit online for being one of the biggest there has been. I mean, it's up there with The Beatles'. Now that I'm older and out of that lifestyle, it's something I've had to opportunity to truly study.
One of the most common things were fan accounts. They were on Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, and Wattpad to name a few. Fans got extremely creative with usernames from "depressed_directioner" to "harrysbrownchelseyboot_". The force that united everyone on here was unbreakable. They posted photos, videos, and edits of the band. They wrote fan fiction, which was sometimes disturbing. One that stood out, as recommended by a colleague of mine, was Baby Doll. It's probably one of the most-read Harry Styles-focused fanfictions on WattPad and I've been told it was well written and is worth the read - all credits to WattPad user "Wonderwall123".
Streaming parties were a big part of fan accounts; they would constantly be posting about it. If the band had dropped a new album, fans would start streaming it so that they could start breaking music records. As ridiculous as this all seems, things could get creepier. Fans were powerful. When it came to One Direction, they could get to very private information about the members. Sneaking into building vents, hacking airport security, and somehow getting a hold of birth certificates are just a few of the intense situations fans put themselves in.
On a more positive side, friendship was a huge part of this. While fans loved One Direction, they formed friendships that would last them forever. Heck, I know girls from my fan days still. There was no barrier to anybody. Someone from New Jersey could be best friends with someone from Australia, simply because of mutual admiration for a boy band.
Fan culture leaves an impact on people. It seems ridiculous to hear, of course. How could a boy band create much change? They did, though. And now that the band turned 10 years old, fans looked back at the history they have just like the band. There was also hope for a reunion, but it sadly didn't happen. These past years were formative. Five guys became world-changing, joined a band, and then went solo. People around the world loved them. These same people found each other. They gained an experience that is unforgettable and one of a kind.
