Fanfiction in the Age of AI: Community Perspectives on Creativity, Authenticity and Adoption

2025-06-23

AI Summary

This study investigates the impact of generative AI integration on creativity, authenticity, and community cohesion within fan fiction communities. Drawing on qualitative data from surveys and in-depth interviews with 157 active members, we find a stance of cautious adoption: participants acknowledge AI’s potential to stimulate creative ideation and enhance writing efficiency, yet express widespread concerns regarding authenticity erosion, diminished interpersonal collaboration, and ethical risks—including authorship ambiguity and normative violations. Methodologically, the research employs interpretive thematic analysis grounded in community informatics and human-AI collaboration theory. Our primary contribution is a novel “community-values-centered” AI integration framework, proposing three interlocking design principles: mandatory transparency in AI use, structured co-creation protocols that preserve human agency, and proactive ethical design interventions. Empirically grounded and practice-oriented, this framework advances actionable guidelines for responsible AI embedding in creative online communities, balancing technological augmentation with sociocultural integrity.

Technology Category

• Humans and AI: Learning Human Values and Preferences
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Computational Creativity
• Philosophy and Ethics of AI: Artificial General Intelligence

Application Category

• Social Networks and Social Media: Generative AI / large language models and their impact on social systems
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Trust and reliance of crowd workers and data experts on GenAI
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Accountability, Transparency, and Ethics for personalization

Abstract

The integration of Generative AI (GenAI) into creative communities, like fanfiction, is reshaping how stories are created, shared, and valued. This study investigates the perceptions of 157 active fanfiction members, both readers and writers, regarding AI-generated content in fanfiction. Our research explores the impact of GenAI on community dynamics, examining how AI affects the participatory and collaborative nature of these spaces. The findings reveal responses ranging from cautious acceptance of AI's potential for creative enhancement to concerns about authenticity, ethical issues, and the erosion of human-centered values. Participants emphasized the importance of transparency and expressed worries about losing social connections. Our study highlights the need for thoughtful AI integration in creative platforms using design interventions that enable ethical practices, promote transparency, increase engagement and connection, and preserve the community's core values.

Problem

• Investigates fanfiction community views on AI-generated content
• Explores AI's impact on creativity and authenticity in fanfiction
• Examines ethical concerns and human-centered values in AI integration

Innovation

• Surveyed 157 fanfiction members on AI impact
• Explored AI effects on community dynamics
• Proposed design for ethical AI integration