Paid translation? Fans are rejecting Weverse’s costly new features, including DMs
Fans believe that “Weverse DM” can harm artists’ mental health and are proposing several changes to the new features of the HYBE platform.
Weverse is currently the most popular artist-fan communication platform among kpop fans.
It allows fans to comment on their favorite artists’ posts and join their live broadcasts. Recently, Weverse added a new paid feature called “Weverse DM”. Fans can easily send direct messages to their idols.
In reality, this new feature isn’t going down very well with fans. They believe this can negatively impact the mental health of idols, as virtually anyone who pays can message any idol.
Malicious individuals or anti-fans can use this feature to provoke, defame or insult idols and artists.
Recently, two BTS members, RM and V, spoke out during a live broadcast about receiving strange inappropriate comments.
JungKook also turned off the commentary session as he started his live broadcast.
Fans are demanding better translation quality for subtitles and avoiding negative content that can affect artists on the platform.
Previously, Bubble and Universe also had a feature where paid users could send messages to and receive the same messages from artists.
In addition, Weverse plans to use AI to automatically review text messages and monitor published content to protect artists. Which is not enough to protect the idols.
While the Weverse DM is something fans are aware of, the “Membership +” angered fans even more. Looking at the promo, it seems that more fees should be paid to access certain features.
Options such as subtitles, translations, ad-free options, and access to instant first play were options that viewers could previously enjoy for free and are now paid.
When the information was released, fans were upset. Though some have found it an excuse for jokes, particularly the duration of BTS’s V’s Weverse Live, which is likely shorter than the commercials…
According to fans, HYBE apparently wants to exploit them even more. While everyone would be affected by advertising, subtitles were a paid service that directly and only affected international fans.
Also, it would go against HYBE’s ideology to see music as a bridge between language barriers.
While it’s normal for HYBE to want to expand the platform, the removal of basic features, especially subtitles, becomes a barrier for international fans to enjoy K-Pop, instead putting a price on “privileges” to take advantage of the to pull what Weverse (and previously the VLIVE) had previously made available for free.
What do you think?
