The Rise and Fall of Fansubbing Communities: The Case of Autrjim and Subtitling Social Media

(Bandar Altalidi and Zafer Tuhaitah)

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Abstract

This study investigates the development, workflow and institutional structure of Autrjim, a volunteer fansubbing community that subtitles educational YouTube content into Arabic. The study explores how such online communities manage translation projects, engage members and adapt to digital challenges. Situated within the frameworks of institutional translation and communities of practice, the research highlights the significance of fansubbing as a socially driven, collaborative form of user-generated translation in the Arab digital space. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, comprising a structured interview with the project’s administrator and a questionnaire completed by 58 members. The findings revealed Autrjim’s structured workflow, reliance on digital tools (i.e. Trello, YouTube and Telegram) and a strong sense of shared purpose among members, despite the absence of financial incentives. However, external changes – particularly YouTube’s policy shift – led to the discontinuation of the project. The study concludes that while digital platforms facilitate community-based translation, their evolving policies pose critical risks to sustainability. It recommends that fansubbing communities explore alternative tools, diversify platforms and establish contingency plans to ensure long-term viability. This case contributes to a growing understanding of nonprofessional translation practices in under-researched contexts and the challenges they face in an increasingly monetised digital landscape.
KEYWORDS
Crowdsourcing, digital fansubbing, digital translation, practice community, social media, volunteer translation

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