Breaking down the influence of social media on manga storylines in 2024

[Yukki]

Given the increasing prevalence of social media, it's interesting to witness the impact it's having on manga storylines globally. Using Twitter trends to develop plotlines or using popular memes has become the norm for many creators. We've seen it being executed in numerous manga like "Hashtag Love" and "InstaLife".

Moreover, today's manga stories are resonating more with real-world issues, be it online bullying, issues with privacy, or the darker side of internet fame. It lets the reader connect more with the story and characters, taking a blend of real and virtual world scenarios.

On one hand, it's great seeing socially relevant matters woven into stories. On the other hand, is the originality and creativity of manga being influenced too much, molding to internet trends rather than presenting fresh perspectives? We've seen several repeated tropes in many manga series recently.

For anyone new to manga or long-time fans, do you believe social media revolutionizing manga is a positive or negative outcome? Will it lead to a decline in the originality of stories or an expansion of creative ideas?

And which manga do you believe best incorporates the influence of social media into its storyline? Would love to hear your thoughts.

[jaylee]

I've noticed the trend as well, and it's definitely a changeable wave. On one point, introducing real-world elements like social media into a manga presents relatability for us, the young audience. The manga becomes an echo of the life we live, which is steeped in technology and online communication. But there's another side of the coin. I've read several mangas recently that, in their attempt to intertwine with internet lore, the storyline felt forced. It started to feel less like a well-crafted plot and more about being trendy. Regarding your question, "Hashtag Love" does a fantastic job incorporating social media into its storyline. The way the 'trend' becomes a part of the catalyst is clever. Defining whether the phenomenon is positive or negative is still hanging in the air. It's captivating and relatable on one hand, and on the other, it might risk losing originality in an attempt to keep in line with current trends.