The Hostage Crisis of Cultural Participation

Either contribute profit or go bust.

Nov 4 • 

Monia Ali

30

3

8

October 2025

YouTubers Dan and Phil Came Out As A Couple. So What?

Thoughts on the Phan confirmation.

Oct 18 • 

Monia Ali

17

4

7

Liam Payne: Foundational, Then Expendable

One Direction Deep Dive #1

Oct 16 • 

Monia Ali

24

4

3

Look What Google Made Taylor Swift Do

Why her AI videos should alarm us all.

Oct 8 • 

Monia Ali

35

5

We need a framework to treat fandom trauma

Well, online trauma in general.

Oct 6 • 

Monia Ali

18

6

3

September 2025

Manufacturing Cougar Bait

Positioning teen boys for adult desire: from Bieber to One Direction and beyond

Sep 10 • 

Monia Ali

51

12

8

August 2025

SXSW 2025 Promises That Fandom is the Future

Non-entertainment brands have gone mask-off in their pursuit of fans.

Aug 30 • 

Monia Ali

14

7

Personal Update: Open to Work

Heading for unemployment.

Aug 25 • 

Monia Ali

24

5

Fandom Trauma, Revisited

Op-Ed from exiledfan.

Aug 19 • 

Monia Ali

26

14

3

July 2025

The Parasocial Limerence Phenomenon

The logical end result of affect mining.

Jul 31 • 

Monia Ali

34

2

7

The Celebrity Relationship Industrial Complex

Every celebrity relationship is calculated (even the real ones)

Jul 9 • 

Monia Ali

26

10

8

June 2025

Fan Loyalty or Stockholm Syndrome?

The human cost of fan labour.

Jun 3 • 

Monia Ali

32

23

11