Oct 01 (News On Japan) - Japan has one of the most robust online economies in the world, but it's also a country that uses social media the least.
According to a study, on average, Japanese people spend about 3 hours and 45 minutes on social media daily, which is significantly less than the global average of 6 hours and 37 minutes. Although the majority of Millennials and Gen Z in other parts of the world can easily spend most of their day checking or posting on their social media feeds, it's a different story when it comes to the Japanese since they value privacy and anonymity in their culture. Users are also more cautious when it comes to sharing matters online.
If they choose to have digital interactions, they tend to favor certain apps and platforms since these enable them to have an online presence while staying discreet at the same time. Here's how Japan uses online platforms for social interaction.
To Make New Friends or Build a Fanbase
Some people think that it may be a bit difficult to befriend a Japanese person online since they tend to be more reserved than others. However, while it may take a bit of time for them to open up, they're also friendly, polite, and have a lot of respect for other cultures, so having a conversation with them can be a delightful experience. Young Japanese individuals who want to socialize usually visit live video chatting sites like InstaCams. Since sites like this have language options, they can adjust their settings so they can talk to people who speak Japanese. However, they can also use it to improve their skills in a new language, such as English, which is a compulsory subject in Japanese schools.
Meanwhile, those who want to try live streaming to build a fanbase do podcasts, or they do educational, music, gaming, cooking, mukbang, or ASMR broadcasts. Although most Japanese live streamers don't mind showing their faces online, some go the VTuber route wherein they use a 3D avatar during streams to protect their identity. VTubers mostly stream on YouTube, BiliBili, Twitch, or Niconico, while conventional streamers go on domestic live streaming apps like Pococha or Showroom.
Connecting with Family and Friends
In most parts of the world, messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger reign supreme as they're used by millions of people to stay in touch with friends, family members, and co-workers. In Japan though, the most popular messaging app is Line, and 81 percent use it regularly to communicate with the people in their lives. They also use this app to create group chats for their family or friend groups. Meanwhile, about 45 percent use Facebook to connect or with loved ones.
Sharing Content
People in Japan very rarely repost content, but there are some types of content that most of them can't help but share. For instance, the Japanese are quite fun-loving, so they enjoy parodies or cosplays. A particularly good parody of a popular figure can get a lot of likes and shares on Facebook, but it may gain more traction on TikTok, which is widely used by Japanese individuals who are in their teens and 20s. If they want to improve their engagement rate, they post a lot of content that's associated with Japan, such as cherry blossoms, Hello Kitty, Sailor Moon, or any other popular manga character.
The Japanese may be less chronically online as the rest of the world, but they have a strong digital presence in various apps and sites on the Internet. Consider engaging with Japanese people on these platforms to form friendships and to gain a deeper understanding of their culture.
