Spending on Hawaiian villas and supporting favorite idols... How do female students deal with the economic disparities that appear on social media during summer vacation?

1. Why "Differences" Overflow in Summer Vacation Timelines

In Japan, the number of social media users has reached about 84 million (approximately 80% of internet users), with particularly high usage rates among those in their teens and twenties. This means that the summer vacations of younger generations are heavily influenced by social media. Travel, studying abroad, returning to one's hometown, internships, fan activities... Each way of spending the summer becomes visible through posts, exponentially increasing the number of comparisons and raising the "frequency of being shown disparities."ICT Research Institute〖ICT Marketing, Consulting, and Market Research by ICT Research Institute〗

2. "Oshi-Katsu" is Fun. That's Why It Hits the Wallet

"Oshi-katsu" has expanded as a unique consumption culture in Japan, with the market size estimated to reach several trillion yen between 2024 and 2025. As estimated by Oshi-Katsu Research Institute (about 3.5 trillion yen) and Reuters (about 14 million people spending approximately 170,000 yen per person annually), concert tours and official merchandise purchases are areas that can significantly impact household budgets. Companies are also trying to capture this enthusiasm, with finance, transportation, and retail sectors collaborating, making the consumption pathways increasingly sophisticated.ReutersNomura SecuritiesPress Release & News Release Distribution Share No.1｜PR TIMES

3. The Reality of Student Finances: Rising Prices, Tuition, and Scholarships

According to the "Student Life Survey (2024)" by the National Federation of University Co-operative Associations, expenses have increased in many categories such as food and housing, while savings and carryover funds have decreased. Dependence on part-time income is increasing, and the burden is growing due to rising prices and tuition hikes. In private universities, a survey shows noticeable increases in initial and total fees for the 2025 academic year. Regarding scholarships, JASSO has published the household criteria for grant-type scholarships, opening a path to reduce burdens if conditions are met.Universal Co-op+1ReseMomJASSO

4. "Japan's Relative Poverty Rate" and the Younger Generation

According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's National Livelihood Survey (2022), the relative poverty rate is 15.4%, and the child poverty rate is 11.5%. Although there are signs of improvement, there is a wide distribution of disposable income, and the reality remains that family background affects students' choices (such as trips, studying abroad, resort vacations). Social media can transform these "invisible differences" into "visible daily differences."Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare+1

5. The Psychology of Social Media: Comparison, Jealousy, and the FOMO Spiral

A Japanese study examining the relationship between social media use, social comparison, jealousy, and mental health among university students suggests that social comparison and jealousy may be related to stress and decreased self-esteem. In other words, the more extraordinary "winning shots" fill timelines during summer vacation, the higher the risk of self-evaluation being shaken.Saitama Gakuen University Repository

6. Regaining the "Freedom Not to See": Adjusting Your View with Features

"I want to maintain friendships, but I want to reduce posts that drain my emotions." In such cases, use platform features wisely.

• Instagram's Mute/Restrict: Temporarily hide posts, stories, and notes without unfollowing. Check the official guide to adjust your "view" without damaging relationships.About InstagramFacebook

• X (formerly Twitter) Mute Words: Make specific words and hashtags invisible in bulk. During summer vacation, temporarily mute "travel-related words" or "live tour words" for effectiveness.Help Center

7. Create Your Own Money "Rules": Balanced Spending and "Oshi-Katsu Budget"

The psychology of household finances influences consumption. The Cabinet Office's analysis also points out that while households are becoming more frugal, personal consumption lacks strength even with increased disposable income. What's effective here is **"balanced spending"—focusing on cost performance in daily life and emphasizing experiences in extraordinary times. Set dual guards with "monthly limits" and "annual event limits" for oshi-katsu, and establish the rule that "oshi-katsu is only funded from pre-savings." This can reduce impulses and minimize regrets.Cabinet Office Website

Simple Design for Oshi-Katsu (Example)

1. Monthly Envelopes: Create three envelopes for transportation, tickets, and goods (digital budgeting is okay).

2. Annual Calendar: Declare limits such as a maximum of ○ trips/year and ○ yen/year for goods.

3. Charge Only on Special Days: Focus on "meaningful days" like live concert days or oshi birthdays.

4. Reciprocal Benefit Rule: If you go on a trip, set actions to "return" to the household, like cooking at home three times the following week.

5. Transparent Sharing of Split Bills with Friends: Share the amount and payment roles in advance with a memo.

8. Make "Learning" and "Support" Your Allies: Proper Use of Systems and Information

• Scholarships and Educational Support: Always check the criteria for JASSO's grant-type scholarships and new educational support systems. If you meet the conditions, prioritize securing the foundation of tuition and living expenses before "enduring oshi-katsu."JASSO

• Self-Check with University Co-op Data: Compare your food, housing expenses, and part-time income with the average. Where are you higher? Where can you cut back? Reviewing each semester can reduce unnecessary spending.Universal Co-op

• Plan Trips with an Understanding of "Polarization": Young people's overseas travel is becoming polarized—those who go, go; those who don't, don't. Understand that the dazzling travel boasts on social media include a "selection bias," and avoid unnecessary comparisons.Diamond Online

9. "Quick Techniques" for When Your Heart Still Feels Uneasy

• "Summer Mode" for App Time: Lower the daily app limit by 20-30% only during summer vacation.

• Set "No-View Days": For example, don't open Instagram one day a week.

• Example of Mute Words (Limited Time): Hawaii/Resort/Vacation Home/Business Class/Tour/Winning Report/Great Seats/Bulk Buying (Register the unmute date on your calendar first).Help Center

• The Idea of "Creating Support": Oshi-katsu is not just about buying. Fan art, translation volunteering, analysis notes, evangelism threads—there is great joy in contributing without spending money.

10. "From Comparison to Empathy"—Maintaining Relationships Without Breaking Them

If you feel uneasy about luxurious summer posts, adjust the distance without cutting off relationships. Prioritize "your own recovery" by using mute and display adjustments while respecting the choices of others. In oshi-katsu, too, if you divide roles like **"those who can go report from the field, those who can't hold a streaming party,"** the community can continue flexibly.

11. Conclusion—Regaining "My Own Measure"

Social media pits someone's "highlight" against your "everyday" on the same screen. However, tuition, household finances, work styles, family circumstances, health conditions—everyone's "initial conditions" in life are different. Instead of using someone else's measure, design your summer according to your own value standards. Your oshi won't disappear, and next summer will come. What you can do today is use the freedom not to see, choose where to spend, and nurture what you love at your own pace.

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