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Introduction: Defining Alternate Universes

First off, lets define what romanticization, sexualization, and fetishization is and what it means in fandom communities as a whole;

Romanticization: the act of perceiving or representing something as being more appealing, exciting, or ideal than it actually is; involves focusing on the positive or idealized aspects while downplaying or ignoring negative or realistic ones. [src]

Sexualization: the act of making something, often a person, seem more sexual than it should be, often by focusing on their physical appearance and sexuality while disregarding their other qualities. [src]

Fetishization: the act of making someone or something the object of excessive, often sexual, attention and desire, sometimes to the point of objectification or reduction to a stereotype. [src]

In fandom spaces, especially online, audiences of varying ages, races, sexual identities, genders, and overall backgrounds are naturally subjected to other's interpretations of a media. Unfortunately, these alternative interpretations often reduce the depth of the media; creating stereotypes that reflect a simpler form to create comfort in the eyes of other, specific demographics (for example: shipping characters together to reflect one's own sexuality, even if the media depicts a "canon" relationship featuring the different characters of the same media).

In hindsight, these alternative interpretations usually aren't formed to cause harm, but instead pacify certain viewers as they indulge in a more comforting form of a favored media. However, as we'll see later on, these comfort "AUs" (Alternate Universes) are sometimes exploited by individuals with ill-intentions, predators, and/or other unhealthy peoples.

Chapter One: A New Issue within Fandoms

I've noticed a new and unique issue within online fandom spaces. And it's how people, especially younger individuals (13-17), have seemed to be especially prone to romanticizing mental illness or "edgy" characters.

Part of this comes from our new "day and age" of accessible internet without any real regulations for minors. and PLEASE NOTE: I am NOT suggesting that a higher power (e.g. the government, of all things) should be responsible for internet regulations in any way, shape, or form. However, we are also in such an odd position due to the lack of protections, or at least educational supports for minors so that they can be prepared to look at more mature medias. Because a lot of the time their first impressions of a media are from fandom spaces, as they are the easiest to access due to social media.

As we've already understood; romanticization is the act of perceiving or representing something as being more appealing, exciting, or ideal than it actually is. It comes from a place rooted in emotions; a place that is most misunderstood due to the very human depths behind it.

I believe younger audiences are one of the most susceptible demographics to fall into romanticization because of the lack of understanding of their bigger, stronger emotions. If they see a media delve into a deep struggle that is meant to promote introspection of real emotions and often traumatic concepts, sometimes the easiest way to cope with it will come from reducing the impact by deflecting the negative emotions that comes from the depicted theme with an idealized reality.

Again, this practice isn't specific to minors, as it's actually incredibly normal to have an escapism mindset when faced with themes that are hard to work through [src]. It just becomes harmful when we forget or are unaware that what we are doing is a coping mechanism.

Chapter Two: Now What?

One word: Education! If we were able to normalize unhealthy patterns then we have the same power to normalize healthier ones! That's not to say we have to filter out escapism in fandoms of course, as it's actually not a bad mechanism in of itself to begin with. AUs and "headcanons" also allow for new, fresh ideas to be thrown around which can create a stronger sense of community and understanding, especially in minority demographics (e.g. poc, disability, lgbtq+).

Conclusion

There will never be one grand solution to issues within online fandoms, spaces are too big and unmanaged to truly kick bad habits, but I feel as long as we do our part to promote understanding, empathy, and root causes for certain behaviors, that over time we can make certain spaces a little safer to navigate.