Identity, Stance, and Intra-Fandom Conflict: A Discourse Analysis of Solo and Team Fans in a Chinese Idol Fandom

With the increasing prominence of digital fan cultures, online fandoms have become key sites for identity performance, ideological alignment, and internal contestation. This study investigates how distinct fan identities namely, team fans (supporters of the entire idol group) and solo fans (supporters of a specific member) are constructed and negotiated through online discourse during moments of controversy. Focusing on a Chinese idol group, the analysis draws on user-generated comments from Weibo following a public conflict. Using discourse analysis, the study reveals how linguistic strategies such as stance-taking, boundary marking, and evaluative language are employed to articulate divergent identities. Team fans tend to emphasize unity, emotional restraint, and brand preservation, while solo fans adopt adversarial narratives rooted in exclusive loyalty and moral critique. These patterns illustrate how identity positioning influences affective hierarchies and intra-fandom polarization. The findings contribute to broader understandings of digital identity politics and the sociolinguistics of online fan conflict.