The Decline of Mixi and the Rise of Ameba in Japanese Social Media Landscape

Understanding the Shift in Japanese Social Media

As a footnote to Makiko's terrific answer, I propose an idea regarding the shift in the Japanese social media scene. While Mixi had already started seeing a decline in popularity as of last year, particularly in contrast to Twitter, a pivotal event like the 3/11 Tokyo earthquake highlighted the strength and accessibility of Twitter during such times. The earthquake exposé I watched, 3/11 Tokyo Quake Story , further reinforced this notion. During that crisis, Twitter became crucial, providing real-time updates on safety, accessibility of public transportation, availability of supplies, and much more. This underscores the effectiveness of an open platform, unlike Mixi’s gated community approach.

Why Twitter and Ameba Are Gaining Popularity

Many Japanese users were more inclined to communicate through an open platform like Twitter, especially in times of crisis. Twitter was accessible, 24/7, and connected the world. Social media platforms like Mixi, once popular among the Japanese, might have been seen as more of a 'gated community,' which in the days following the earthquake, many felt less desirable compared to an open, global communication network. It became increasingly difficult for users to step back from the global connectivity that Twitter offered.

Mixi’s Drop in Popularity

The data from Alexa rankings supports this shift. Ameblo, the blogging section of Ameba, and Ameba itself rank 8th and 16th in Japanese traffic respectively, whereas Mixi has dropped to 21st. The question is: how did Ameba achieve this rise in popularity? I have not spent much time in the Mixi ecosystem, but certain factors are clear.

The Rise of Ameba

Ameba has made strides in several areas. It offers a better platform to follow blogs by famous individuals and to discover interesting blogs. Its community game 'Pigg', which mimics Farmville, has also gained significant popularity. Almost every Japanese artist or celebrity I have followed is on Ameba, and it is their primary publishing platform. The site design is modern and clean, the mobile app is user-friendly, and the built-in analytics features are impressive.

The rise of Ameba can be attributed to two main factors. Firstly, it has a larger presence of high-profile blogs than Mixi. Secondly, it excels in minor enhancements that make it slightly better and more attractive to users.

Conclusion

While Mixi’s decline is evident, the rise of Ameba offers a compelling shift in the Japanese social media landscape. This shift is driven by the increasing demand for open platforms and the desire for global connectivity. The following blogs and insights into these platforms can help users and businesses stay informed about this evolving digital space.

Note: The information is based on a mix of personal observations and Alexa rankings as of the writing date.