The culture surrounding fan edits has taken social media by storm, but the idea behind these edits is nothing new. Frequently, the first fan edit people cite as Kandy Fong’s 1975 slideshow of “Star Trek” outtakes overlaid with Fong and her friends singing their rendition of the parody song “What Do You Do With A Drunken Vulcan?” Today, these edits are often no longer than 30 seconds and are increasing in popularity on TikTok’s ever-so-popular social media platform. The edits go by a variety of names, such as “fan edits,” “fan cams,” “thirst edits,” and so on. Whatever social media users call them, most videos have “#edits” in the bio.
Following Fong’s “Star Trek” slideshow, which platforms people upload fan edits has shifted depending on the prominent social media at the time: platforms such as YouTube, Vine, Tumblr and Instagram all had their wave of fan edits and accounts in their prime. Since the first edit, the short videos have always attracted a passionate audience. But the production and engagement with Gen Z’s version of fan edits on TikTok has never been seen before. Edits generate millions of views and likes and thousands of “saves.” One of the most notorious edits on TikTok is an edit of the actor Timothée Chalamet dancing in the 2017 film “Call Me by Your Name.” The user @stcrvds posted the edit, which has 5.5 million likes, 957.3 thousand saves and 1.1 million shares as of March 2024.
Although fandoms for musicians, films, or books are nothing new, the increasing normalization of fandoms is. TikTok trends reveal this normalization as students pull up the same edit on multiple laptops, phones, or tablets and play them simultaneously or when users joked about what the first video they would show a Victorian child if they could travel back in time (surprise, for many TikTok users it would a fan edit).
Other videos have gone viral on TikTok, with people joking about getting called out for rewatching the same edit or showing their friends their favorite edits that they specifically save to a certain folder to watch later.
With increasing popularity, many people are debating whether to consume and produce these short, catchy videos at such high rates.
While all the negative effects and influences of excessive social media use are not completely known, society generally accepts that social media can be addictive. Speaking to Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, Chamath Palihapitiya, the former vice president for Facebook’s user growth, acknowledged that the short-term, dopamine-driven feedback loops can harm society. Additionally, an article written for Brown’s Undergraduate Journal of Public Health notes TikTok’s unique ‘For You’ page as a major contributor to the platform’s addictive nature, which increases the likelihood that users may fall into a “flow-like state” leading them to scroll endlessly.
In an article for The Berkeley Beacon, Maggie Kaprielian calls out the toxic para-social relationships fan edits can foster and the hyper-sexualization of celebrities in “thirst edits.”
Both concerns are valid, but the issues presented are not specific to fan edits or the culture surrounding them; instead, they result from social media in its totality.
Edits, no matter the style or fandom, may offer a form of escape for some. The community surrounding editing has expanded greatly. Some people make social media accounts specifically to share “editing audios” that are often sped up, slowed down or remixed in some way. With increasing popularity, people have created playlists on YouTube and Spotify that solely include audios that are popular for editing. For example, a video posted to YouTube titled “pov: you’re in an edit (recommended to listen alone)” has 5.4 million views.
For others, the growing community around fan edits can allow users to bond with other people and provide comfort over a shared interest. Because edits are mostly pictures and videos with a catchy song or focus on a particular fandom, the communities may be diverse and often have limited language barriers. With the increasing presence of AI on social media, apps can translate languages immediately. Some editors even collaborate with others to create one edit. The communities also keep beloved fandoms alive. It is not rare to come across an edit of an older show or movie such as “Harry Potter” or “The Hunger Games.” For both editors and viewers, these videos are a big part of fan culture.
Creating fan edits also allows people to express themselves through a creative outlet. As fan edits are so abundant on social media, the skill ranges depending on the editor and the software they use. No matter if one has fancy editing software such as Adobe After Effects or Final Cut Pro or uses an app on their smartphone like Video Star or Cap Cut, there is an option for everyone to create edits of their own. Fan editors work with what they have, and smartphone edits are just as likely to go viral as the ones made with expensive editing programs. No matter the software the editors use, the videos take time and finesse, so it is not rare that creators get defensive over copied edits or if others post similar editing styles. To combat this, some users sell their remixed audios, screen packs or transitions. The increase in the popularity of fan edits has become so extreme that creators can earn real money from their projects.
Selling editing packs is not the only way these editors have made money. TikTok user Alexa Graham, also known as @namelessalexa on the platform, shared a video claiming they were offered an editing job after posting a Marvel fan edit.
The reach of these edits does not go unnoticed by production companies. This form of marketing is undoubtedly a big success with TikTok users.
“I cannot wait unit the young editors are working in the film industry [because] they just get it,” TikTok user @gabash405 said in a post. “I spend more time watching edits after [a] movie than watching the movie. I appreciate the editors so much… [the edits] are literally art and they are my favorite thing about this app…”
With the upcoming release of “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” Lionsgate took to TikTok to post their own fan edits. The user @ifyouregonnalie, a self-proclaimed “professional fangirl,” duetted Lionsgate’s edit with the caption “imagine getting paid to make [The Hunger Games] edits… where can i apply for this job???” Other users commented under the duet and praised the production’s marketing for the film.
The Australian games and entertainment company Fortress also posted a now-viral video with the text “hey where’s our social media girl,” before panning to her watching “the Jacob Elordi edit” on multiple screens at one of their venues.
All social media platforms can be addictive and foster negative behaviors in individuals. It can be easy to fall into a mindless state of constant scrolling, especially if one is searching for an escape from reality. For example, during quarantine, TikTok saw an uptick in usage and a transformation in the videos shared on the platform. During peak lockdown times due to COVID-19, @stcrvds posted the notorious Timothée Chalamet edit, triggering different fandoms to post similar edits.
Excessive social media use will not end anytime soon and is an increasing factor in adolescents’ lives. With an ever-present medium that can be challenging to escape, why not scroll through content you find entertaining?
Video edits encompass so much more than fan edits. Some people create video edits focused on certain aesthetics. Sometimes, the videos simply have pretty pictures and a cute song.
No matter the genre, people generally create video edits to have fun, express themselves, relive a show or movie they love, and connect with others. Edits are one media form on social platforms where people can ironically escape the daunting reality of unfavorable comparisons and upsetting news promoted on social sites.
