I was invited to a LINE OpenChat, and at first, I was on my guard
Recently, I've been seeing more invitations to join LINE OpenChats.
Honestly, when I first saw one, I was a bit on my guard. It felt like the atmosphere was somehow different from the usual LINE groups I have with friends.
When I tried taking a peek, there was a long list of unfamiliar names. What's more, they weren't real names, but mysterious nicknames.
"Who are all these people?"
In my usual friend groups, I know exactly who everyone is, but OpenChat was like this from the very beginning.
For starters, the system is different.
After looking into it, it seems that OpenChat operates on different premises than a regular LINE group.
It's a place where people with the same hobbies or interests gather. Whether it's travel, local information, pets, fandom activities, or study groups, because people gather around a theme, the premise from the start is that you are in a space with strangers.
I think the ability to create a dedicated profile to join, separate from your usual LINE name, exists precisely because of this premise.
There are also things to be careful about.
Unlike groups with regular friends, strangers are in the same space.
Therefore, it is safer not to post your real name, address, phone number, family details, or places you frequent.
On rare occasions, there seem to be people who engage in suspicious solicitation or try to lead you to external websites.
These are the four things I am careful about.
Do not use your real name; decide on a nickname just for OpenChat
Do not post stories that could identify you personally
Do not open URLs posted by strangers on the spot
If something feels off, leave immediately
I also make it a habit not to post right after joining, but to observe for a while. I wait until I understand the vibe of the place before posting little by little. Just by doing that, I feel like I've found a good balance—not being overly guarded, but not being too careless either.
Well then.
OpenChat is actually quite convenient once you understand how it works. For me, it suits me better to learn about it before using it, rather than avoiding it out of fear.
Just knowing about it makes you feel a bit more at ease, doesn't it?
Have you ever received an invitation like this? Please let me know in the comments if you'd like.
If you've read this far, I'd be happy if you could tap the ♡ button.
Author: Well then. | Digital Utilization Supporter
30 years in the IT industry. 20 of those years were spent as a technical writer creating manuals. I translate and resolve the "fuzziness" and "vague fears" regarding smartphones and AI for those in their 50s and beyond, using gentle language.