honestly, i donโt think nctโs popularity is declining as much as people make it out to be.
yes, if you only look at the numbers, the drop looks huge but people also forget that nct peaked during 2020 right in the middle of the pandemic. everyone was stuck at home, had way more free time and spent hours online. naturally likes, views, streams and overall engagement were much higher.
now itโs 2026 and people have grown up. they have full time jobs, university, families and responsibilities. most nctzens around me donโt even keep up with fandom discourse on twitter anymore or stay up for every album rollout. some still buy albums (while others have outgrown collecting) most donโt mass stream anymore because theyโre simply busy living their lives.
but the moment a tour is announced? theyโre there. they buy the tickets. to me thatโs a much stronger indicator of a loyal fanbase than inflated social media numbers. you can lose views, likes and chart positions but consistently filling arenas and stadiums years into your career says a lot more about longevity.
if anything, iโd rather see a fandom mature alongside the group than be chronically online chasing numbers forever.