Spoiler alert! Is social media ruining big gig surprises?
Big moments from headline acts are shared online long before many fans see their favourite artists.
By BBC News
Social media is making it harder for some concertgoers to be surprised by big moments at live shows, with fan videos often online before many people have seen the performance for themselves.
The BBC report says major gigs now generate a stream of clips and reactions online whether fans want them or not. It points to Olivia Rodrigo’s recent Unraveled tour, where surprises from the show were already being discussed online shortly after the opening dates.
The article also notes that tours by Harry Styles, Charli XCX and Ariana Grande have been filmed from multiple angles and shared widely in recent months. For some fans, that is part of the excitement; for others, it ruins the build-up.
One fan, Aurélia Collins, said she spends weeks trying to stop social media feeds from serving up posts about her favourite artists, repeatedly marking content as not interested. She told the BBC it “hurts my soul”, but said it is worth it to keep the surprise.
Another fan, McAdam, takes a different view and sees online clips as more like teasers. She said no amount of video can take away from the thrill of seeing the show in person.
The BBC report says one way to avoid spoilers is simply not to look at TikTok. Music writer and broadcaster Snapes said that if fans want to be surprised, they have to protect themselves from absorbing that online culture.
Phoebe Bridgers has gone further by banning phones at her shows. According to the report, fans have to lock devices in special pouches at the venue, and anyone caught breaking the rule is removed.
The piece closes by noting that some fans would rather see more spoiler warnings on videos, so people who want to stay surprised can choose not to watch.