Futur-ish 007: The Discord Server that did a Dungeon Raid on a Government
Oct 30, 2025
Virtual spaces are becoming the new political battlegrounds, with fandoms like the BTS ARMY wielding real-world influence. Keyboard squatting disrupts extremist messaging on social media, while video games like Animal Crossing and Fortnite host protests and political campaigns. In Nepal, Discord was the platform for youth organizing and electing a representative, showcasing how gaming roots foster political action. The discussion delves into the potential of online communities to act as new political entities and their implications for governance and citizenship.
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Fan Communities As Political Forces
- Online fan communities can rapidly mobilize to influence real-world trends and politics.
- Radha Mistry shows K-pop fandoms commandeering hashtags and markets as emergent political actors.
Fortnite Hosted A Massive Concert
- Travis Scott's Fortnite concert drew an estimated 12.3 million simultaneous attendees during COVID.
- Radha Mistry uses the event to show games can host mass, synchronous civic and cultural gatherings.
Politicians Enter Virtual Spaces
- Politicians now attempt to engage in virtual territories like Fortnite and Animal Crossing.
- This signals growing legitimacy of online platforms as arenas for political interaction.