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For One Direction and their fans "Twitter is huge", Emily, a dedicated 13 year-old fan, tells me. Many of her friends standing nearby agree. For to be a decent groupie these days, you have to have a presence on Twitter, darling. Most of the band's fans dedicate themselves to their Twitter profiles, tweeting and following anyone linked to the band in the hope of successfully meeting the ultimate aim: to be recognised by one of the band.

On the surface it seems innocent enough. There's no obvious reason why it's not a positive development: many girls, as young as 13 and 14 that I met today discussed the international friendships they've created through their social media experience. They've found friendship through Twitter: the social media tool so often in the news for trolling.

One user, for example, proudly tweeted "the boys are at their very own premier [sic] for their very own movie all because of us". This appears to be the trend, as most users assume a collective voice on behalf of all other fans. But despite this sense of community, it's difficult not to see the band's rapidly growing fan base as the digital world's answer to Mean Girls.

The dark side

Just like any stereotypical school clique, rivalries exist and commitment must be rigorously proved. There's an underlying edge of competitiveness when I ask girls how many concerts they've attended, many sounding disappointed as their friends are able to present themselves as the bigger fan.

Despite the fact the band has millions of followers; access to the fan base is territorially exclusive. Fans Anya and Grace, both 14, express this protective mindset shared by many fans, stating that "you get people saying they're fans, but they're not here at 6am".

Twitter has also allowed traditional playground politics to be battled out across the pond, as rows between US and UK fans have become the norm. "There was a row which started because One Direction played two extra songs at their US concerts which they didn't do in their UK concert," one fan explains; nothing slips past them.

Like other school fads, the One Direction craze seems alarmingly contagious. The 21st Century phenomenon 'FOMO', Fear Of Missing Out, could be partly responsible as Chloe Murphy, 15, explains the band is "just the thing to love". Twitter, after all, is fertile ground for breeding 'FOMO' as girl groupies continually brag of their experiences with the band in a bid to gain the band's desperately sought attention.

'Not all girl groupies are the same'

What sets these fan girls aside from their predecessors is their overwhelming sense of identity, something they strive to protect. I am informed that not all girl groupies are the same. Many may mistakenly assume that 'Directioners' and 'Beliebers' are from the same neck of the woods – they are not, I'm told sternly. After all, in the wholly-consuming, addictive world of Twitter "you have to pick" which band you prefer.

Social media has provided the means for commitment and dedication on a whole new level, allowing many young girls to usurp a separate life and identity to allow them to assertively express their love for the band. Although many fans have become empowered through their online popularity, their shared identity is worryingly fearless.

I asked fans Grace and Anya about their online fan experience and both were happy to admit they had given their phone numbers away and participated in group chats with people they'd never met.

Yesterday they had spoken on Skype to a new friend, and fellow fan, from California that they had met through Twitter. They reassured me that they were aware of the risks of the internet and had seen personal videos of all the other girls before accepting to speak to them. When asked how their parents felt about them communicating with total strangers, both girls said their mothers and fathers didn't mind. The conversation was quickly moved on and I can't help but wonder just how much the parents really know ...

Hardcore fans

Despite the image this hardcore fan base has accumulated, many fans were keen to dispel any negativity associated with this reputation, particularly following Channel 4's recent documentary, 'Crazy About One Direction'.

By contrast, many girls I met expressed the positive experiences they have had through their commitment to the band, from finding out about new events to learning about different cultures from fans across the world.

Elizabeth Renner, 22, revealed how many more people have interacted with her on Twitter since one of the band members, Harry Styles, began following her. Kudos. Mother of 13 year-old Emily Murray also claimed that their experience in Leicester Square leading up to the premiere on Tuesday night have been great fun as the opportunity had allowed them to meet new people, with many commending the positive atmosphere.

Although these girls are just a few years younger than I am, I can't help but feel mildly intimidated by them and slightly bewildered.

They are determinedly resilient, unaffected by their fellow classmates and parents (who, they tell me, tease them back at home) and confident enough to discuss their love for five boys most have never met. And if they have met them it's at book signings.

The girls' exclusive, protectionist, online community is testament to the remarkable power and influence of female groupies worldwide. Whilst they still scream with joy and cry hysterically, the new persona of the female fan is a radical departure from the past.

Isabelle Kerr is an undergraduate student at Bristol University. She can be found tweeting @Isabelle__Kerr