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It’s no secret that Facebook is having a little bit of trouble in Japan. A recent survey by Aun Consulting showed a drastic decline of almost 11% from September 2012 to January this year. But why are Japanese users quitting the incredibly popular global social networking site? Apparently, between all of the selfies showing off your perfect girlfriend, photo albums of that weekend trip to Tahiti and updates on your amazing job, some users are developing an inferiority complex about their lonely, boring and unsatisfying lives.
Psychologist Kouji Yamada has been hearing from patients lately about the anxieties Facebook is giving them. With almost 14 million Japanese users and one in four people in Japan from ages 25 to 64 being a member of the site, it seems like connecting with friends on the social network has become just too much, even though it is supposed to be fun.
It seems like sharing everyone’s intimate moments on Facebook can cause others to feel like their lives are lacking. Even though the idea of the site is to share interesting or fun things with their friends and families, a lot of Japanese users seem to get overwhelmed and upset when seeing all of the glamorous news from their so-called “friends” with whom they are connected.
A 29-year-old Tokyo woman said that she quit Facebook after being on it for two years. She had worried about being able to keep in touch with her friends, but ultimately found that deleting her account made her closer to the friends that she had. The woman says that she prefers to keep in touch with friends through the phone or other social networks like Japan’s LINE and finds that her friendships are better now without having to worry about Facebook.
Other netizens are saying that Facebook isn’t “worth the trouble” any more and that “nothing interesting is left” on the site. And a lot of people think that Facebook has become a place for kids to “brag” about smoking and drinking despite being underage.
So what is the fix to this Facebook problem? Can the social network address Japanese users’ concerns that the site is being taken over by people who brag too much or should netizens get thicker skin?
Source: Jin115
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12 Comments
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billybegood33
I considered several times to take my account down for the simple fact my social life sucks here. But even if it were great, i don't think i would have the time to use it as much as i would like to. I think its a good tool for family and friends to keep in touch though.
nath
Interestingly enough, The Guardian published a very similar story to this on the same day. It would appear this is, indeed, not only a Japan problem.
Carcharodon
The tide of flaky, people without backbones and full of wishbones grows. If seeing images that you don't like, doesnt motivate you to improve your own inadequate life then what is the point? reminds me of what I recently heard on a podcast of a woman complaining that she was being fat-shamed because her cousin lost 10 kg in weight and everyone was complimenting the cousin, she took those compliments directed at her cousin, as personal jibes at her for not losing weight and felt it was insensitive and rude. Looking for excuses, looking for someone else to blame instead of stepping up to the mark yourself. As for the impuissant woman in the story, ditching FB for LINE, yeah that's a great move. I am sure she'll have some neurotic issues with LINE as well.
homleand
Social networks come and go. Facebook will run its course as well.
sourpuss
This isn't a problem unique to Japan.
Cos
I quit because I don't want Facebook to resell the photos of my gorgeous life, particularly those I have not even posted and their robot when to grab automatically (even if I tried to put all the privacy on, bugs latch everything off once a month).
I've not seen that much. Only 15 yrs old post girlfriends. Others mostly post Christmas-card style photos of kiddos and weddings,
You've never ever been on FB. It's full of that crap. Not a day without someone begging money. And now, the crazies show the videos where they behead their ex and such. OK not your facefriends, but if you have 50 of them, statistically there is one that can't resist to pleasure of reposting you all the crap that is buzzing around.
My boss every single day, on the company's facebook. Abominably boring like all corporate FB pages.
Pointless, we email and skype each others, unless we meet.
cleo
Only friend the people you know personally and are genuinely interested in.
tyvtgo1US
I am with you John..
nath
I read another article recently citing that the life most people display on their Facebook (or other social networking sites for that matter) isn't an entirely accurate representation of their lifestyle. Who posts pictures of them at their boring job, or talks about money trouble, or shares a video of a fight with their significant other, on Facebook? Mostly no one. The life people share on Facebook, for the most part, is like their "highlight reel," showcasing the highest and most exciting points of their lives to others. If you think your friends' lives are Facebook-level glamorous all the time, you're probably going to have a bad time... especially if you only have your own, normal life as a benchmark.
JeffLee
Envy is a big factor in Japan. That's why personal vacations are discouraged and bureaucrats are reprimanded for returning to work from holidays with suntans. Don't let anyone know you're having fun!!
Yogizuna
They should get "thicker skin", much thicker skin! Facebook is not a place for wimps.
pizzatime
Too jelly!!!!!