SNS Trend 'Naemyeon Gaeshi is Dangerous' What Does It Mean? [Sunday Culture]

"Inner Expression Is Risky Even for OO"
Unique Hobbies and Tastes
Expression Created from Fear of Being Questioned "What Is That?"
Reflects Frequent SNS Use Among MZ Generation

Do you have a favorite singer? I have been a fan of singer Kim Kyung-ho since my school days. Usually, when I say that, the typical responses are "The one with long hair?", "A rocker?", or "Dalryeoga-eua~", followed by comments like "Don’t your generation like someone else?", "Usually people mention an idol at times like this," or "Young people are so unique." As someone who even follows concerts with a light stick, sometimes I think, "I just answered when you asked about my favorite singer, so why...?" In such moments, I feel a bit awkward but just say, "It’s a matter of taste, so please respect it."

Yes, why suddenly share 'I-didn’t-ask-and-I’m-not-curious' (anmulangung) information? In Japan, the phrase 'Inner disclosure is risky even for OO (?面開示は○○すら危?)' has recently become popular among young people on social networking services (SNS). It means that people avoid openly revealing their unique tastes or hobbies because they don’t know what kind of criticism they might receive, so they just pretend to like what everyone else knows. After all, even the person asking is often "not really curious," and it’s just an icebreaker.

Captured image from Auction's past advertising campaign 'Respect for Preferences'. (Photo by Auction YouTube)

On X (formerly Twitter), various cases have resonated with people. For example, when asked "Which Star Wars character do you like?" someone answered "Galen Marek," only to be told, "Who’s that? Usually people say Darth Vader or Yoda." The conclusion is that "Inner disclosure is risky even for favorite movies." For reference, Galen Marek is the last descendant of the Marek family secretly trained by Darth Vader... well, that’s enough for now.

Similarly, when someone says they like manga and is asked what they like, if they mention something other than well-known titles like 'Jjangu' or 'Conan,' they might be asked, "Are you an otaku?" This is similar to how in Korea, if you say you like manga other than the 'One Nabl' (One Piece, Naruto, Bleach), you are labeled an 'otaku.'

In short, this phrase is used when the perspectives of "I don’t care about your minor tastes; I just asked as a formality, so answer without pressure" and "If that’s the case, why did you ask me at all?" collide. In my case, I could say "Inner disclosure is risky even for favorite singers."

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) also introduced this expression. Nikkei explained, "There are posts about people getting criticized and hurt after talking about things related to their inner selves, like their favorite band names, manga titles, or childhood." They added, "Favorite singers or manga titles have become like private matters that can’t be casually talked about or heard."

In fact, such personal information is an important means of communication. In Japan, the process of revealing such personal information and continuing communication is called 'self-disclosure' or 'inner disclosure.' But why is this uncomfortable? Nikkei analyzed that "generations familiar with SNS communication know well that carelessly revealing this can lead to controversy, so they try to hide it as much as possible." This creates an atmosphere where people just give answers that don’t bother others to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Nikkei cited a psychology expert who said, "If you hide your tastes as private information like this, relationships may seem good on the surface, but it’s easy to feel lonely. Conversely, if you courageously show your inner self, you will increase the number of companions with whom you can talk about anything."

A Japanese YouTube channel offering advice for people who find it difficult to open up emotionally. (Photo by YouTube Mentalist Daigo Channel)

In short, it’s an era where it’s hard to casually talk about your tastes. Nowadays, the MZ generation’s content consumption is fragmented and segmented. It is also said to be 'hyper-personalized.' It’s no longer a generation where everyone shares the same culture, like asking "Did you watch Gag Concert yesterday?" Each person subscribes to very different YouTube channels.

Nevertheless, society sets 'standards' and tends not to accept anything beyond those limits. But standards and trends always change. Just as Y2K fashion, once considered tacky, is now seen as something you’re behind the times if you don’t wear. The major that everyone knows is not necessarily normal, and the minor is not abnormal. A society that respects tastes could ultimately be a society that embraces diversity. This is not just in Japan. What’s wrong with being a little unique? Before leaving it as privacy and closing your heart, let’s listen.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.