Connection with family and friends lost: 519 people faced loss of communication "without being able to tell anyone"

"Smartphone service getting suspended." Data has revealed that 519 people facing this crisis have lost their communication lifeline without being able to ask anyone for help. Currently, surveys by the Cabinet Office also point out the "isolation of middle-aged and elderly people" as a serious social issue. In addition to this, this survey revealed a structure in which the psychology of "embarrassment/shame," along with economic hardship, prevents initial SOS signals, resulting in deepening isolation. We report on the structural issue where people end up in a state of complete isolation due to loss of communication without being able to confide in those around them. *1 National Survey on the Actual Conditions of Loneliness and Isolation (Conducted in 2022) https://www.cao.go.jp/kodoku_koritsu/torikumi/zenkokuchousa/r4.html [ Unable to send out an SOS even in the crisis of communication suspension ] The fact has come to light that it is extremely difficult to ask for help from those around you when standing on the brink of smartphone service suspension or forced cancellation. In this survey, 519 people, amounting to more than half of the total, answered that they "could not" consult anyone. If communication is lost, a situation arises where hiring contacts during job hunting and access to government support counters are physically cut off. There are many people who are unable to speak up even though they know they will suffer social damage. [ The most common reason is "embarrassment," a psychological hurdle preventing consultation ] The most common reason for not being able to consult was "because I was too embarrassed to say it," which was selected by 170 people. This was followed by "because I didn't want to cause worry" (131 people) and "because I panicked, not knowing what to do" (128 people). It can be seen that there is a strong conscious effort to bear everything alone, perceiving financial hardship and payment delinquency as a social "shame." This psychological hurdle pushes away opportunities for consultation, becoming a factor that drives people toward isolation as if cutting off their own retreat. [ The "cannot tell anyone" isolation fallen into by people in their 50s and the loss of social trust ] Data also reveals the reality that it is the demographic in their 50s that falls most into this situation of "not being able to consult anyone." Among the age groups of the survey respondents, those in their "50s" accounted for the most with 224 people. As a result of letting go of their phone number, which is their "point of contact with society," without being able to consult anyone, concrete situations from the time when they lost contact with friends and acquaintances have been submitted in the free-text survey responses. < Free-text survey responses > - It is truly painful that I have created acquaintances with whom I can never get in touch again, even though it is my own fault. - My phone number changed, and I lost the trust of my friends. - Because my LINE account disappeared, my ties with the people I was communicating with on LINE were severed. [ Summary: Invisible isolation born from "embarrassment" ] Data has made it clear that the background to losing means of communication is influenced not only by mere financial problems but also by the difficulty of consulting due to "embarrassment." The psychological hurdle to seeking support is high, and it is not uncommon for situations to worsen without being able to confide in others as self-esteem becomes a wall. As a result, the SOS progresses unnoticed, and by the time it is noticed, social connections have been lost. We believe that this kind of "invisible isolation" is not just an individual problem but one of the structural issues faced by modern society. Society as a whole needs to turn its attention once again to this chain reaction that worsens without anyone knowing. ■ Survey Overview Survey Period: February 25 to March 4, 2026 Survey Method: Questionnaire survey Number of Valid Responses: 604 Survey Target: Men and women who have experienced not having a mobile phone for a certain period ● Request for credit notation when quoting or reprinting * When quoting or reprinting this release, we ask that you please be sure to clearly specify the credit. "According to the results of a survey conducted by the 'Dare Demo Sumaho Research Center'..." While there are voices attributing the suspension of communication to personal responsibility in this survey, the reality has been revealed that self-esteem and embarrassment hinder SOS signals, leading individuals to bear their hardship alone. We believe this silence results in losing contact with society, creating a structural issue that distances them from independence. That is exactly why we feel there is a need to review the mechanisms for receiving small SOS signals. We will continue to make "investments for the future" in the form of communication infrastructure so that everyone can reconnect with society and move towards independence. Representative Director, Tsubasa Takahashi "Dare Demo Sumaho (Smartphone for Anyone)" provided by Ala Link Co., Ltd. is a service that allows even those who have difficulty contracting a mobile phone due to past delinquency history, etc., to make a contract as long as they have identity verification documents. By adopting our own screening process, we promptly provide the lifeline of communication and prevent social isolation. To date, we have supported a cumulative total of 110,000 people, supporting the first steps that lead to employment and reintegration into society for many individuals. [ Company Overview ] Company Name Ala Link Co., Ltd. (Main service: Dare Demo Sumaho) Head Office NTT Shin-Ikebukuro Building 9F, 3-21-14 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013 Representative Director Tsubasa Takahashi Business Activities 1. Telecommunications business 2. Leasing or sale of telecommunications equipment 3. Planning, development, sales, leasing, operation, and maintenance of communication equipment and peripheral devices 4. All business operations incidental or related to the preceding items URL https://www.a-sas.ne.jp/