Consultations about Social Media Top 100,000 in 2025

Tokyo, June 12 (Jiji Press)–The annual number of consultation requests made to consumer affairs centers across Japan regarding social media topped 100,000 for the first time in 2025, a government report showed Friday. Such consultations totaled 101,045 last year, nearly double the level in 2021, according to the 2026 white paper on consumer affairs, adopted at the day’s cabinet meeting. By age group, consultation requests related to social media from those in their 60s increased by some 4,000 from 2024 to 20,848. Among those in their 50s and those in their 70s or older, the figures came to 22,291 and 13,408, respectively, both up by about 3,000. Those in their 50s and older accounted for more than half of the total social media-related consultations. The 2026 white paper said that a total of about 970,000 consultation requests were made to consumer affairs centers in 2025, up about 70,000 from the preceding year. Consultations linked to malpractices in which businesses make consumers sign contracts for unnecessary goods or services under the guise of inspections came to 20,058, up 2.7 times compared with 2021. Requests for consultations related to elderly people, including those with dementia, remained high at 10,020. The 2026 report also included issues regarding digitalization and artificial intelligence technologies, based on last year’s survey by the Consumer Affairs Agency. About 25 pct of surveyed people said they use AI. Of them, about 60 pct each use the technology for learning and study support and for better work and operational efficiency, while only 12 pct said they use AI for support for purchasing and signing up for goods and services. Some 20 pct of all respondents said they trust online posts by celebrities and influencers. The proportion came to as high as 44.7 pct among those aged 15-19. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]