Real versus virtual friends on mixi
This recent survey reported on by japan.internet.com and conducted by JR Tokai Express Research Inc looks at the giant of the Japanese Social Networking Service market, mixi.
Demographics
On the 30th of April 2008 330 members of the JR Tokai Express Research monitor group employed in the private sector completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 70.6% of the sample was male, 13.0% in their twenties, 43.3% in their thirties, 33.0% in their forties, 8.8% in their fifties, and 1.5% in their sixties. Why exactly they limited the sample to only the private sector is a bit of a mystery to me, however.
Before you ask, sorry, I don’t have any invites to mixi to give to anyone. To sign up you need a Japanese mobile phone email address, but I don’t know of anyone offering a proxy service for sign-ups, whether for free or for a small fee. Indeed, there might be a minor business opportunity there, selling sign-ups. If anyone does know of such a service, or is offering to do sign-ups for free, etc, please drop me a line and I’ll link to you.
Research results
First, from the sample 31.8%, or 105 people, were current members of mixi. They were asked the following questions. The first was how often they logged in, with nearly half (49.5% or 52 people) accessing mixi every day. Next was 21.9% who logged in two or three times a week, then 13.3% one or two times a month.
Q1: How many people have you registered as friends on mixi? (Sample size=105)
One to nine people 47.6% Ten to twenty-nine people 21.9% Thirty to forty-nine people 13.3% Fifty to ninety-nine people 13.3% One to two hundred people 3.8% More than two hundred people 0.0% Don’t know 0.0% Note that by default whoever gave you an invite automatically gets registered as a friend when you first sign up. This question refers to the “My Mixi” feature of friend registration.
Q2: From the friends in Q1, how many are real-life friends or acquaintances? (Sample size=105)
None at all 1.9% One to three in ten 30.5% Four to six in ten 7.9% Seven to nine in ten 28.6% Everyone 30.5% Don’t know 1.0% Note that there is a definite split between those with almost no real friends versus those with all or mostly real friends. A cross-reference between the answers in Q1 and Q2 would also be interesting to see.
Q3: What sorts of mixi contents, features do you often use? (Sample size=105, multiple answer)
Votes Percentage Viewing diaries 76 72.4% Community (groups) 60 57.1% Writing diary 59 56.2% Messaging 29 27.6% mixi news 28 26.7% Photos 22 21.0% Search 4 3.8% Movies 3 2.9% Reviews 3 2.9% Music 2 1.9% Weather 1 1.0% Other 4 3.8%
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Read more on: jr tokai express research,mixi,sns
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ukintokyo said,
May 14, 2008 @ 01:07
I’ve been reading your blog for a while now - its cool.
I’m a member of Mixi, but barely use it. Quite happy to send mixi invites to anyone who wants them for free.
Keep up the good work.
PeterD said,
May 14, 2008 @ 01:08
My numbers are similar. I only have a few Mixi friends who I know in real life. And the diaries and communities are about all I use (as I find them to be good Japanese practice). Glad I got in before they out this new requirement for having a Japanese mobile phone.
Deas said,
May 14, 2008 @ 10:12
I fit in with the vast majority, too! But most of my Mixi friends ARE real life friends. I met them in college, or living in Japan. I’m also really slack on that site, though. I basically just linked my blog to it (like I do with Facebook) to let those 8 or 9 people keep track of me using the social site of their choice. Ha ha. This was a really interesting post. (Add me if you have a Mixi profile, by the way.)
Durf said,
May 14, 2008 @ 14:31
I don’t think there’s any requirement for a keitai address . . . The red text on the “invite a friend” page says that now keitai addresses can *also* be used.
Didn’t know there was a limit to the number of invites you got, either, but I’d be happy to get people in if they want to see what it’s about.
doinkies said,
May 15, 2008 @ 06:09
I hear that mixi only requires a keitai address if you’re using a free email account to join (like Yahoo, Gmail, etc.) I have a mixi account as well, but I would hesitate before just handing out invites to anyone and everyone. There was one time where a friend on another board just gave out invites to anyone who asked and a known troll joined and started harassing people, and the friend ended up canceling her mixi account because of it
I also am kind of slack on mixi, I only update every once in a while ^^;;
Vallum said,
May 31, 2008 @ 19:38
I live in Japan and would be very grateful to anyone who sends me a mixi invite!
Vallum said,
May 31, 2008 @ 19:39
Oh, my e-mail is duhdzi@gmail.com by the way… XD
Durf said,
May 31, 2008 @ 21:28
Invitation sent!
Shidoin Ricardo Cruz said,
June 7, 2008 @ 07:17
Hi, everyone! I am a Karate teacher in Brazil and would really like to join the MIXI community, so that I can get in touch with friends and my senior instructors in Japan. Could anybody send me an invite?
Thanks for your attention!
指導員リカルドクルス
日本空手道井上派糸東流慶心会伯国本部道場
Shidoin Ricardo Cruz said,
June 7, 2008 @ 07:20
Thanks in advance!
rcruz.br@gmail.com
Juu said,
July 18, 2008 @ 02:14
I just learnt about Mixi, and it’s certainly new and sounds interesting to me! anyone care to send me an invite pleaseeeee? ;D
harajuuku(at)gmail(dot)com, thanks!!