<![CDATA[The openness of social media makes expressions of Japanese popular culture fandom readily visible and subject to the wibu label. This study examines public perceptions of that label among followers of the @cosplay_bengkulu Instagram account and traces its meaning across five stages of labeling theory. A descriptive qualitative approach involved four purposively selected informants: two account followers and two nonfollowers familiar with the term wibu. Data came from in-depth interviews, observations of account posts and interactions, and documentation. Findings were analyzed through data reduction, display, and verification, with methodological triangulation. Initial interest in anime and cosplay was generally regarded as an ordinary hobby. Judgments shifted when expressions were perceived as unusually intense or conspicuous: three informants interpreted the wibu label negatively, while one viewed it neutrally. Audience responses included appreciation of creativity, jokes, ridicule, and social distancing. In the informants’ accounts, the label could encourage support within the community, but it was more often associated with restricting self-expression to avoid stigma. The community was viewed as distinct, although its presence was generally accepted under certain conditions. These findings suggest that visual symbols and the context in which they are interpreted shape perceived boundaries of acceptable behavior. Explanatory captions and digital cultural literacy may help reduce generalizations about fans. Because the study involved only four informants, its findings cannot represent the views of the wider Bengkulu population.]]>
