Be comfortable and share your feelings
I want to share the things I love with many people. Miyake Kaho is researching ways to communicate this desire on a daily basis, and has written about how to communicate positively on social media in her own books. We asked her for tips on how to weave your own words on social media and convey positive feelings to others.
Kaho Miyake proposes three rules for expressing your love on social media
・Keep your word.
・Write your thoughts as specifically as possible.
・Find a neighborhood that suits you and make friends.
──Has the advent of social media changed the way you communicate?
I think the biggest change between before and after the advent of social media is that we now "self-censor" what we say about ourselves. Before the development of social media, opportunities to introduce ourselves were probably limited to the new semester or when starting a new job or changing jobs. However, today's social media is a place where you can always see the reactions to your self-introduction.
The focus of self-consciousness has shifted to "What will everyone think if I say this?", and a new perspective on "how to communicate" has been added, where people are constantly conscious of the presence of others and have a self-produced perspective. Self-censorship without knowing what others are thinking is a fairly advanced technique. It seems that this is a relatively natural feeling for the social media generation.
──What should you keep in mind when communicating?
I think it's good manners to consider the feelings of the person receiving your words, and to have doubts about whether your post might offend anyone, even when it comes to the choice of words, before posting.
With that in mind, I personally try to be mindful of protecting my own words. Words have long been known to be contagious, and before you know it, you may find yourself using the same language as your family or friends.
Social media is a place where the words of many different people naturally find their way into your brain, making it difficult to distinguish between your own words and those of others. You may unconsciously quote other people's statements or assume that the opinions of others you sympathize with are your own, putting the presence of your own words in jeopardy.
That's why I think it's important to always be conscious of weaving words from your own feelings and not rely on the opinions or impressions of others. To do this, take notes whenever you're moved so you don't forget, or post your thoughts before looking at other people's social media. I think it's good to get into the habit of putting your feelings into words every day, with the intention of communicating your feelings to someone.
How can you express your feelings in a positive way?
When communicating over the internet, you can't see the other person's face, and misunderstandings can sometimes occur. I think there are a few tips to convey your thoughts and information in your own words.
First, imagine the person you want to communicate with. It would be nice if it could reach more people, but for example, if you went to a concert of your favorite idol and thought, "I want to share this feeling!", the way you write will probably change depending on whether you are writing to fellow fans or if you want to spread the word to people who are not fans.
Next, clarify what you most want to communicate. Narrowing it down to one point will make your writing easier to understand. Finally, write specifically what you want to communicate. Writing specifically about which scene and what you thought was good about it will make it easier to communicate.
In my case, when I post about a book, I don't just post a link to the book's introduction website, but I also post screenshots of the text so that people can read a preview to see the specific parts of the book that I recommend. By putting some thought into making the book more specific, you can spread your message in the right way.
──What should we be careful of?
People often say, "When posting on social media, be careful about the words you use and the content you post," but I think we should be more conscious of "what we spread." If you think about it, being able to convey other people's opinions as your own is a unique situation.
X in particular tends to casually repost (RP) other people's posts, but if it's done millions of times, it can lead to slander. It would be good for them to be aware that "RP is also part of expressing their own opinions" and to carefully consider the content.
Taking a moment to think, "Is it really okay for this opinion to have influence?" or "Is this opinion inappropriate?" I think that will make a big difference in how you communicate.
Another thing to remember is not to be swayed by the atmosphere around you. If you just go along with what others are saying without your own will, you are likely to violate morals. It is important to always think about what you want to communicate and how you want to communicate it.
──What word symbolizes the current way of communicating?
From a communication perspective, I think the word "neighborhood" has become a hot topic on social media recently. Originally meaning "neighborhood, the whole area," it is often used on social media to refer to specific hobbies, communities, and attributes of favorite things. Terms like "bath cancellation neighborhood" and "nature neighborhood" were frequently used.
Recently, it seems like more and more people are interested in "being comfortable using social media." In that case, it's easier if you have a community where you can interact with people who have similar tastes and hobbies. If you're in a "neighborhood" that you like, it's easier to communicate because you have similar interests. Also, recently, connections between "neighborhoods" have become stronger, and buzzwords are sometimes born from these connections.
For example, the word "melo" is used among idol fans. It means that an idol has a charm that makes you fall head over heels for them, and has become a word that is shared among friends to describe a unique feeling that is difficult to express in other words.
──What's the secret to enjoying "communicating"?
I personally love social media and the internet. I still enjoy using it on a daily basis. To that end, I try to avoid discord with others as much as possible, such as muting myself if I feel uneasy or uncomfortable. With so many people posting and being swept up in a wave of information, it's important to be conscious of how you use your words and your environment.
Furthermore, if you are clear about what you want to communicate on social media, it will be more fun to communicate. For example, if you want to talk about your favorite idol, one way to do it is to create an account dedicated to that hobby and find your own "neighborhood." Once you have a clear idea of who you want to share and exchange your thoughts with, it will be easier to imagine how to communicate.
Also, social media platforms like X, Instagram, and TikTok each have their own way of communicating that suits their tone, so if you understand the characteristics of each, you can communicate more enjoyably. Recently, communication has also been taking place on YouTube, and there is a high possibility that it will be used like social media in the future.
The mechanisms of social media may change due to the influence of algorithms, but I believe the important points for enjoying communication will not change significantly.
Examples of widely shared posts by SNS
X
Follow the format of trending posts
X tends to spread the message to like-minded people by following the same format as viral posts. The gaming publication "Mogura Games" introduces the latest works from a critical perspective. "In the recent culture of critical thinking, a structure with bullet points and four still images lined up is popular. A familiar format makes it easier to catch the attention of people with the same interests," says Miyake.
TikTok
Join the trend everyone is obsessed with
TikTok, which focuses on short videos, is a platform where bigger trends emerge than on other social media platforms, and posts using popular songs tend to resonate with many people. KOMOREBI's "Giri Giri" became a viral hit in 2024, and the "Giri Happy Dance" that matches the lyrics of the song became a hot topic. "In addition to music, it's also effective to combine trending elements such as hashtags and dance."
Consciously increase your feed posts
On Instagram, it's effective to not only post stories, which disappear after 24 hours, but also to post to your feed on an ongoing basis. Justin Bieber also frequently posts about his daily life. "The algorithm displays posts in order of recommendations, so I feel that the more posts you make, the more likely it is that they will be suggested to other users."
YouTube
Put some effort into creating thumbnails
The main focus of YouTube is planned videos. In order to get people who sympathize with your content to click, it is important to attract their interest with the video thumbnail. Miyake also pays attention to creating images that make topics about niche books look pop on his own YouTube channel. "I carefully consider which scenes to cut out in order to get people interested."
