No More Handshaking: How have COVID-19 pushed the expansion of computer-mediated communication in Japanese idol culture?

Title of the Paper

No More Handshaking: How have COVID-19 pushed the expansion of computer-mediated communication in Japanese idol culture?

Bibliographic Information

• Author: Hiromu Yakura
• Conference: CHI ’21: CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
• Date and Location: May 8-13, 2021, Yokohama, Japan
• Publisher: ACM
• Keywords: Japanese idol culture, COVID-19, computer-mediated communication, virtual reality, interactive technology

Research Background and Problems

• Problems or Challenges:

  • The spread of COVID-19 has led to the suspension of traditional face-to-face events such as "handshake meetings" in idol culture, posing significant challenges for idol groups in maintaining fan loyalty.
  • Communication in idol culture is not merely transactional (e.g., workplace communication) but must balance emotional connection and economic benefits, which is distinct from other studied scenarios (e.g., family relationships or work environments).
  • Achieving a balance between technological feasibility, economic viability, and preserving emotional connections between fans and idols has become a critical research issue.

• Research Objectives:

  • Investigate how Japanese idol groups have shifted to computer-mediated communication forms in response to the pandemic.
  • Understand fans' perceptions of these changes, including their advantages and disadvantages.

• Research Motivation and Related Work:

  • Traditional idol culture emphasizes authenticity and face-to-face interaction, but the sudden shift to online communication presents unique challenges due to the loss of these traditional experiences.
  • The study references related fields of computer-mediated communication (e.g., family relationships, work scenarios) and interactive technologies in performing arts.

Solutions

• Methods or Solutions:

  • The study employs a combination of quantitative surveys and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative analysis was conducted by collecting announcements from idol groups to examine the current state of the transition, while interviews with fans provided deeper insights into their perceptions.
  • Proposed new activity formats such as "computer-mediated live events" (e.g., personalized interactions via video calls) and "signature live streams."

• Innovations:

  • Explored the application of computer-mediated communication in idol culture, achieving a balance between economic benefits and emotional connections.
  • Proposed novel interactive experience designs, such as "live online one-on-one interactions."

• Implementation Steps:

  • Quantitative survey: Tracked online activity formats of 53 idol groups and categorized communication channels.
  • Semi-structured interviews: Conducted in-depth conversations with 7 idol fans to discuss the pros and cons of online modes and their real experiences.

Research Outcomes

• Specific Findings:

  • Identified two main forms of online interaction by idol groups: signature live streams and online one-on-one conversations.
  • Fan feedback revealed the advantages of these methods (e.g., easier access, lower psychological barriers) and their drawbacks (e.g., technical issues, reduced interaction quality).
  • Proposed the concept of "engagement" rather than mere "interaction" to strengthen idol-fan relationships.

• Experimental or Evaluation Results:

  • Fans generally perceive online interactions as a substitute but not a complete replacement for face-to-face experiences. Fans prefer offline meet-and-greet events.
  • Fans highlighted issues such as technical compatibility problems, decreased interaction quality, and diminished enthusiasm in participatory experiences.

• Advantages Compared to Existing Solutions:

  • This study approaches the issue from the perspective of a specific culture (idol culture), proposing solutions particularly suited for idol group fan interactions.
  • Compared to traditional online interaction research, it places greater emphasis on the "uniqueness" and "impact" of emotional connections.

• Limitations and Future Directions:

  • Limitations: The sample size for interviews is small, covering only 7 fans, which limits the ability to fully reflect the diversity of the fan community.
  • Future Directions:
    • Design questionnaires and conduct large-scale surveys to obtain more generalizable conclusions.
    • Develop computer-mediated interaction technologies with greater "uniqueness" for idol culture, such as incorporating "third-person perspective" cameras to enhance intimacy.
    • Apply research findings to computer-mediated communication in performing arts and intimate relationships.