Trust and Media Use in Everyday Life in Japan

In trust research, the relation between personal use of media, such as television viewing and Internet use, and trust has been extensively discussed. The association of heavy television viewing and Internet use with mistrust remains a source of heated debate. Putnam stated that, “America’s social capital was in a state of long-term decline, and the main culprit in its demise was the rise of television.” He also pointed out that another principal villain in the decline might be the Internet. While some studies indicate that Internet use may enhance large social networks and contribute to higher levels of generalized trust, others suggest the contrary. This study aims to contribute to this debate. Eight research questions were identified, studied, and reported on. The data were collected based on nationwide general social surveys on attitudes. Results, using multiple correspondence analysis, show clear differences in the media use of trusting and mistrusting persons.