LINE, a popular messaging app for smartphones, has captured the hearts of many Japanese people with free calls, messaging, and their expressive stickers that go beyond emoji. A survey revealed some interesting habits by its core users.
A survey conducted in Japan involving 800 Japanese men and women aged 15 to 29 about their LINE habits has revealed some interesting statistics.
For starters, LINE is becoming a household name between youngsters, with over 60% choosing to say “give me a LINE” instead of “send me a message on LINE.” Similarly, over 70% of users also used terms like “I’ll send a LINE” or “LINE me” instead of “I’ll send you a message on LINE” or “message me with LINE,” respectively.
13.5% of respondents admitted to confessing their love to another through LINE, and the leading group was men in their 20s, with 31.3% using the app to spur their love interest. On the other hand 11% of respondents had been dumped on LINE, and once again men in their 20s lead the pack with 20.9% getting their hearts e-broken.
[Nico Nico News via 俺的ゲーム速報@JIN]
It’s a sign of the times that more and more people are confessing their love through less intimate, and therefore less emotionally scarring, communication venues. I used to read tips on how if you want to impress a girl, don’t call, text, or email — go and tell her! However, these days it seems that even women are becoming more accepting to these less intimate forms of communication.
Years ago, writing letters professing one’s love for another was seen as an intimate gesture. Letters definitely hold power now as well, as we’re so used to typing and tapping. Through handwriting, you could see their passion and effort, but I wonder if some at that time were put off by it, preferring a face to face confession. Will calling, emailing — and quite a stretch, but maybe even texting — someday become a romantic gesture?