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From a battery-operated fan attached to chopsticks to cool down noodles, to people who get paid to shove people onto the commuter train during rush hours, Japan has a reputation for strange things. Have you heard of the hikikomori? These are people who have withdrawn themselves from society in Japan. The problem is, this is not limited to Japan. More and more cases are being reported throughout the world of extreme social withdrawal. What’s causing this? Is technology to blame? If so, how much? No one seems to know the answers to these questions with any certainty. We know one thing – this is not good for us or for society.
Links & Articles
The Plight of Japan’s Modern-Day Hermits from BBC News
Hikikomori from Wikipedia
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