An annual report by the Japanese government said that the number of cases of Internet users worrying and seeking advice related to social networks reached a record of 86,396 cases in 2024. Although the total number of consultation cases remains stable at about 900,000, social network-related issues have increased sharply compared to previous years.
Data from the National Consumer Affairs Center shows that the number of consultations on troubleshooting caused by social networks has increased by 3.4 times compared to 5 years ago. Compared to the previous year, this number increased by 6.6%, reflecting a significant increase in cases of people seeking advice from the age group of 50 and over.
People aged 50 to 59 account for the highest number of consultations with 19,077 cases, followed by the age group of 60 with 16,244 cases. Meanwhile, the group of people under 50 years old often encounter problems related to extra work introduced through social networking platforms. A typical case is a consumer having to pay a fine of up to 630,000 yen after participating in a side job through social networks.
For the elderly, problems are often related to the registration service of functional foods and cosmetics. The report also shows that elderly issues, such as dementia, are at a one- decade high with 9,618 cases, including signing home sales contracts from home sales staff.
Notably, in 76% of cases, the person who directly comes to the consultation is not the elderly but a relative or relatives, showing that many elderly people do not clearly realize that they are in trouble. The report emphasizes the need for relatives and surrounding communities to proactively observe, warn and support to prevent similar situations from occurring.
