From 80s-era sitcom spoofs of Trekkies (Star Trek fans) at conventions to 2010s articles making fun of teenage girls who love the latest boy band, entertainment fandom has long been a source of jokes and jibes. In fact, these communities have very rarely found themselves on the receiving end of respect that other fandoms (sports, for example) receive, though they all serve the same purpose: bringing human beings together to address chronic loneliness.By speaking openly about entertainment fandom – and feeling culturally safe to do so – fans of books, TV shows, movies, music, anime, manga and more can find one another both online and in the real world – to the benefit of all.Amanda Lien (she/her) is a healthcare content marketing specialist, thought leadership ghostwriter, and a lifelong fangirl. Growing up, she found her closest friends through online fan communities, bonding with others who loved the same books, TV shows, and movies as she did. As an adult, she still geeks out over sci-fi and speculative fiction in all forms – and continues to forge her best and brightest friendships through those fandom connections.When she's not crafting content for others or scrolling on Tumblr, she writes science fiction novels and fanfiction drafts, proving that being a fangirl never gets old. To get away from her desk, she takes ballet and modern dance classes and attends as many concerts as possible. She currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx