How do I use mixi?

May 29, 2011 7:35 AM

How do I use mixi?

I've just opened up a mixi account, but since my Japanese is basic at best, I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out how it actually works. I'm used to Facebook where I can just type in someone's name and there they are, but mixi uses keywords and email addresses and whatnot, and I'm left very confused.

Could any of you lovely MeFites give me a rundown? I'm not looking for a translation; rather, a general idea of how people find people, how they talk on mixi, etc.

Thanks so much!

posted by reductiondesign to Computers & Internet (1 answer total)

it is very hard to search for people on mixi because very few people use their real names, real pictures or real details. Ask your friends to tell you their user names and then search that way. People interact a lot by writing blog/journal posts and then their friends comment. The communities on mixi is another interesting feature. Some of them are very active and useful.

I would say that more than 50% of people use mixi only on their cellphones. They are seeing a very different mixi than you do on a computer. It seems backwards, but if you want to fit in access mixi from your phone as much as you can. This will give you the "popular" experience of mixi.

I stopped using mixi years ago for the reasons stated in the first sentence. There is also a lot of fraud and spam on mixi. Facebook is gaining popularity in Japan and twitter is very popular. I would just convert your friends to facebook and twitter. They will thank your for it.
posted by Infernarl at 9:02 AM on May 29, 2011