From Connection to Conflict: Understanding Online Slander in Japan

Born around the beginning of the 2000s, social networking services (SNS) entered our lives as spaces for people to socialize and network online. Twenty years on, many now feel that these spaces have become arenas for disconnect and dispute, largely due to the global rise of online slander. In Japan, over half of SNS users report having seen slanderous posts.  

Defining Online Slander in Japan

In Japan, “online slander” is not defined by a distinct legal term. Instead, it is covered under broader definitions of defamation, insult and privacy violations in both criminal and civil law. A wide variety of cases fall under slander, including derogatory remarks, harassment, impersonation, legal torts (infringements of rights) and criminal acts.  

 In dealing with online slander cases, Japanese courts evaluate whether online comments exceed “socially acceptable limits” and infringe upon the reputation and dignity of the targeted person. This rather subjective standard indicates that not all hurtful statements can be considered slander or defamation: it is deemed crucial to understand the context, content and impact of the statements on the targeted person. 

Cultural Influences: Anonymity and Expression

Although online slander is a global issue, there is one element that creates its unique environment in Japan: the country’s culture of digital anonymity. A study by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications found that 75.1% of Japanese X (formally Twitter) users used this platform anonymously, compared to only 35.7% in the United States and just 31.5% in South Korea. This has been linked to the success of anonymous online bulletin boards in the early development of Japan’s internet environment. Today, most online slander in Japan takes place either on these anonymous online bulletin boards, or on X.  

In Japanese interactions, relationships hold great importance. Factors such as one’s professional position, age and gender determine how they speak and behave around different people in different scenarios. Anonymity online removes the boundaries set by these relationships, and Japanese researchers have demonstrated that opinions online are more polarized and extreme than in real life.  

Demographics of Online Slander: Who Are the Perpetrators?

Despite the temptation to associate issues within the digital realm with younger generations, research shows that the most common perpetrators of online slander in Japan are middle aged men. Men in their 50s are most likely to post slanderous content, followed by those in their 40s and 30s. Perpetrators most commonly justify their actions through a sense of righteousness: they believe that they are fighting against people, often complete strangers, whose actions or opinions are unjust. While around 30% of SNS users aged 20-60 said they had experienced online slander, only between 3% to 13% of those who have slandered consider themselves to have done so. This gap reveals that many perpetrators are harming others involuntarily.  

The combination of anonymity and a lack of recognition that one has slandered makes it difficult for corporations and others to reach out to the right audience when conducting prevention measures for online slander. While it is important to educate about penalties and guilty cases, those combating online slander need to approach this issue from new and creative angles.  

The Loneliness Epidemic: A Possible Catalyst for Online Slander

The profile of online slanderers may reflect societal issues in Japan. For example, research by the Japanese government reveals that approximately 40% of Japanese individuals experience some degree of loneliness, and when looking specifically at men, it is those in their 30s, 40s and 50s who suffer loneliness the most.  

Comparatively, in the U.K. 27% of the population reported feeling isolated. This contrast highlights the gravity of Japan’s situation.  

Studies reveal correlations between loneliness and perpetrators of online slander: self-centeredness and anger are commonly found amongst lonely individuals, and perhaps these create the “sense of righteousness” that perpetrators use to justify posting slanderous content online.  

Innovative Solutions: Bridging Digital and Real-World Connections

One simple remedy for loneliness is to speak with other people. However, the issue is not always about having no one to speak with but finding a space where people can comfortably share their emotions and thoughts. There are multiple tools and services that can help people to find such spaces. While some social networking apps struggle to bring people together online, there are many that bring people together in innovative ways, such as encouraging in-person meetups, that could help to tackle the fundamental issue of loneliness and lead to healthier online and offline communities.  

One of the most popular ways to meet people online is via dating apps, such as Pairs, operated by Eureka—an APCO client. While the stigma surrounding these apps begins to fade, many services offer broader functions to meet new people and form communities outside the realm of romantic dates. In Japan, many users are flocking to Meetup, which aims to bring people together by providing opportunities to meet new people, learn new things, find support and generally escape their comfort zones. Companies may also take inspiration from services such as Vermut, a Spanish app which helps users over 55 to organize local in-person activities, contrasting with traditional social media that monetize screen time. PIAZZA, a company focused on town development, collaborates with municipalities to create local community apps, promoting digital transformation and increasing event participation to revitalize local areas. 

Positive Change: Harnessing the Power of Community in the Digital Age

While social networking spaces grapple with the new challenges surrounding online communities, the internet still has great power in bringing people together to form meaningful connections both online and in person. In combating online slander, companies and organizations can look to address related social issues such as loneliness which affect their user bases. Through such initiatives, SNS services can tackle modern issues that affect their business, while contributing to constructive societal change through positive and healthy online services.