Technology can help us do a lot of things, but some things require a human touch. Though social media increases connectivity, it is also isolating. A market is emerging for renting people that uses mobile connectivity to find those willing to lend a helping hand or just an ear. The market is growing the most quickly in Japan, home to many odd and niche trends.
Some services are private and really seem heartwarming and like a tribute to humanity. For example, Shoji Morimoto, a 37-year old man can be hired via Twitter to “eat, drink and hang around.” He basically can be hired to do seemingly nothing, but the service he provides is really human company; he can sit on a bench with you in a park and listen for hours. In Japan, You Can Rent a Person To Do Nothing (vice.com)
Other services are specialized. There are individuals and companies who offer services like the following:
- Hire someone to come wipe away tears, for those who want to be comforted but don’t want anyone to know that they are suffering.
- Hire someone to court a cheating partner’s lover to convince them to leave your partner, for those seeking non-confrontational solutions.
- Hire a sibling or a parent for a day, for those who are bullied at school and parents who are looking for a role model to educate their children.
- Hire a date, for those who want to practice going on dates.
Although there are many positive, affordable, and benign examples, there are also extreme cases with significant implications. Here is an article from BBC detailing such a service: The saboteurs you can hire to end your relationship – BBC Worklife
This trend has inspired anime (Rent-a-Girlfriend (TV Series 2020– ) – IMDb) and TV shows (People Who Do Not Rent (TV Series 2020) – IMDb) alike. It mirrors problem solving trends in society today, that when there is a problem, the first thing we do is to turn to the internet on our mobile devices. Rather than having an open discussion with our partners, for example, we would rather hire a shoulder to cry on or get someone to solve the problem for us. The trend is a symptom of our growing disconnectedness with each other and connectedness with our devices.
Interesting! Does it have anything to do with introverts-extraverts? Because not everyone needs a company that badly. Age can play a crucial role too
Thank you for this interesting post, Ying. I had not heard about this trend before. I have mixed feelings about the concept: it saddens me that society has come to a point where people feel they need to rent a person, as they don’t have the social connections the require; it’s also reassuring to know that those who are experiencing this level of isolation (or desperation) have the option to hire someone to help them out. I imagine that this trend will grow as mobile culture continues to evolve throughout the world.
Hello Ying,
I really love this topic! I watched so many videos on how social interaction is changing in the world of technology. I understand their need to interact with someone, to hear their concerns and overall be that person that is socially there. I think it’s very helpful for many individuals that desire a human connection but have issues with social interaction. Or. it can be that it can solve the issue of loneliness. But there are other people that find social interaction with real people not appealing at all. A mobile character that interacts with can solve solve this issue of lack of emotional support. I know it sounds strange but it exists, the idea of a virtual wife for example. The video link provided talks about the idea of a “Virtual Companion” on a mobile and home device.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FIOcIDM5U0
I agree that there’s a growing disconnectedness with each other, but I like this idea of a “virtual companion” for those that really do have issues with connecting with people . I like that Japan is willing to explore these possibilities and break a few conventional rules in a conventional society. I understand this need of a virtual companion or as discusses in your post a rent a person.
Here is another video to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DqQvq94MI0
In education, what role do you think a virtual companion will take?
Andrea, you got me thinking about a place for virtual companions in education. I’m interested in the idea of virtual assistants for elementary students who are either trying to learn from home, or in a busy classroom where the teacher is not always available to help. I don’t think having a real person come to help would be appropriate, but a virtual aide who could be called upon to support a student academically or socially would be helpful in many ways. This assistant could be anything from an advanced version of Siri to an online live chat with a real person.
Right. And kids from kindergarten often talk about their imaginary friends, so they will probably find nothing wrong with a virtual companion. At the same time, as Ying said in the initial post, it might exacerbate already existing person-to-person disconnectedness