Hikikomori and technology-enabled escapism: An affordances and constraints perspective

Hikikomori refers to a mental disorder that manifests as an extreme form of social withdrawal. Those afflicted (i.e., the Hikikomoris) may not go to work or school or leave their home at all, and they may not engage in face-to-face communication with anyone, including their own family members. Information Technology (IT) has been identified as one of the key catalysts of Hikikomori development. And yet, there remains a lack of knowledge on the precise mechanisms through which IT drives the development of this disorder. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a case study of the Yokayoka Hikikomori Support Center based in Fukuoka, Japan. Our findings reveal that IT influences Hikikomori development by presenting three forms of escapes - the Relational, Emotional, and Spiritual Escapes. Moreover, each escape is more important in a specific stage of Hikikomori development and impacts the social life of the afflicted differently.