Meghan Phelps-Roper has been a fan of Harry Potter since 1998. She says the series came out just as many people were getting their first introduction to the internet. A lot of these fans are quick to say that it wasn't just Harry Potter that brought them together, but the community they found surrounding it.
The early days of the internet collide with the feverish fandom of “Harry Potter,” and a sprawling, global community emerges. But the hopefulness of this new technology brings with it the darker impulses of human nature.
Produced by Andy Mills, Matthew Boll, and Megan Phelps-Roper, with special thanks to Candace Mittel Kahn and Emily Yoffe.
This show is proudly sponsored by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. FIRE believes free speech makes free people. Learn more at thefire.org.