Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

Algorithmic Amplification of Fan Circle Mentality: A Study of Chinese Table Tennis National Team Fandom on Social Media

Yijun Liang*
the Affiliated High School of SCNU

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

The development of social media has greatly changed people's way of thinking. The algorithmic recommendation system continuously exposes netizens to content that aligns with their existing stances, thereby reinforcing their viewpoints and potentially provoking extreme speech and behaviors. This research aims to find out whether and how the algorithms extremify people's viewpoints. By studying posts and comments on Sina Weibo and RedNotes (using a 5-point scale and content analysis), this research finds differences between the two platforms, with Weibo being more emotional and RedNotes being more rational and less extreme. Most posts have an obvious tendency and comments under the post usually share the same stance, suggesting that users with similar stances are either exposed to similar content or are influenced by others' comments into changing their views. This research sheds light on the relationship between algorithmic recommendation and collective opinion, quantifies the ideological leaning of posts on social media, fills the research gap concerning fandom in the sports domain, and provides practical guidance for the regulation of social media.

Keywords: Algorithmic recommendation; social media; fan circle; group mind
Published: September 22, 2026
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2026.HT37264
Volume: CHR Vol.122
pp. 53-59
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