Technology-enabled subcultures among Chinese youths: smartphone addiction, virtual social capital, and ACGN addiction

Abstract

The anime, comics, video games, and novels (ACGN) subculture is the most popular subculture among Chinese youths. Also known as Erciyuan culture in China, youths use technology to participate in this subculture, primarily consuming ACGN content via their smartphones. There is an increasing trend of addiction to smartphones and to the ACGN subculture among Chinese youths. Using social capital theory and drawing on survey data from Chinese ACGN fans, this paper examines the mechanisms underlying smartphone and ACGN subculture addiction using a moderated mediation model. The findings reveal that smartphone addiction is positively related to ACGN content addiction. Bridging and bonding social capital mediate this relationship, whereas perceived stigma of participation in the ACGN subculture moderates it. The implications of the findings regarding participation in technology-enabled Chinese subcultures are also discussed.