On Thursday, March 12, Weverse officially announced through its social media accounts that SEVENTEEN will be joining Big Hit's artists, BTS, TXT, and its affiliate group GFRIEND this coming week!
According to Weverse's official tweet, "The official fan community for carat all over the world, SEVENTEEN Weverse is opening on March 17, 2 PM (Korean Standard Time)."
"Communicate, interact, and share with the members and fellow Carat, and also enjoy a variety of content. See you all in Weverse!" The announcement added.
Weverse is an online community platform created by BNX, a subsidiary of Big Hit Entertainment, the agency of the world-renowned groups, BTS and TXT. The two groups have been using the application to interact with their fans and last year, GFRIEND joined in the same platform after Source Music, GFRIEND's music label, has been acquired as a subsidiary of Big Hit.
Meanwhile, in the beginning of the first half of 2020, it was reported that SEVENTEEN will be an affiliate group of Big Hit as well: thus, making their first step on officially being a group under the agency by joining the exclusive platform. The male group will be communicating with Carats there starting next week.
However, Carats, the official fandom name of SEVENTEEN, are not happy with this news. The 13-piece unit's fans express their thoughts and views on this matter through social media, with many of them opposed to the decision.
"It's an open application where everybody can comment, and I don't want my boys to be stressed about the people hating them," a Carat said.
Since Weverse is an open application and website wherein everyone can join, fans and supporters of SEVENTEEN were anxious and worried for it is inevitable that some netizens will leave harsh comments and messages that may hurt their idols.
It is noted that the fans of the idol group have been sensitive when it comes to their idol's mental health, also noting that the group's leader S. Coups is still adjusting following his return after overcoming his anxiety.
Instead of joining Weverse, Carats pleaded Pledis Entertainment to lift the Instagram ban of SEVENTEEN members instead, release the studio version of the group's song "Heaven," and also called the attention of the agency to improve the maintenance of the idols' fan café, as several non-fans can quickly enter the site.
Some fans were also worried that Big Hit might take over Pledis Entertainment, which is causing the anxiety of fans.
Nevertheless, as joining Weverse is part of the contract of the two affiliate agencies, fans can't do anything but to accept it. However, they are demanding that Weverse should improve their application process instead. Another fan said that they would have to protest if the site is easily accessible by untrusted people.
On the other hand, before the cancellation of the schedules of K-pop artists due to the pandemic COVID-19, SEVENTEEN has been gaining its popularity around the globe. Their first Japanese single is set to be released on the 1st of April. The group will be holding their first Japanese Dome tour as well on the 9th to 28th of May.
