Use of capital to take advantage of celebrity fans has to be curbed

The "circle of fans" culture, which has become increasingly popular in recent years, is in essence a commercial game to reap profits by taking advantage of an entertainment star's popularity.

Since fans not only worship their idols but are also willing to pay to watch or learn more about them, stars, whose popularity hinges on the size of their fan groups, no longer rely on their personal charm or on outstanding performances, but on the "collective action" of their fans to boost their market value.

That explains why some enterprises or platforms organize talent shows, movies and TV series to create stars and then cash in on their popularity.

In this kind of star-manufacturing industry, people are encouraged to participate in the star-making process, including by voting to increase a star's ranking and/or create topics that are likely to trend online.

Some crazy fans are willing to spend a lot of money and energy on such activities in the belief that their efforts will help make their idols more famous.

And the organizers invest more money to exploit the stars' commercial value.

However, some fans believe every act of their idols, whether right or wrong, should be supported unconditionally, and that of their idols' competitors opposed and condemned. Such extreme ideas have had a detrimental impact on society.

The "circle of fans" culture not only promotes the "money first" culture in the entertainment industry, destroys the normal environment for artistic creation and leads to impetuous tendencies, but also hampers the cultivation of healthy social behavior among teenagers.

Many believe that capital can be used to create new stars so long as they can make money, irrespective of their talent and artistic value.

In the star-making industry, young people with little or no experience are usually the biggest victims. Lured by the pretty faces of their idols, they easily walk into a trap laid by capital.

It is therefore necessary to clean up the entertainment industry and cyberspace.

That requires strict control over the use of capital, and rules to prompt entertainment brokerage companies and platforms to abandon their profit-at-any-cost mentality and streamline talent shows.

All such behavior that violates public order needs to be curbed.