Conducted 'Community Usage Survey (2026)' Targeting Community Users

AI Docks Co., Ltd. (Address: 2F-C Shibuya Dogenzaka Tokyu Building, 1-10-8 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Yuki Matsunaga), which operates the community management media 'Community Management Lab,' conducted a survey on the actual usage of 'communities' targeting 100 community users from March 22, 2026, to March 24, 2026.

Background and Purpose of the Survey Online communities are places where people with common goals and values connect online to exchange information and interact. Recently, they have been gaining attention across a wide range of fields such as side jobs, skill enhancement, and hobbies. In this survey, from the perspective of AI Docks Co., Ltd., which operates the media 'Community Management Lab' introducing notable communities and provides support for attracting members and structuring communities, we decided to conduct a survey on the actual state of participation and the ideal image of online communities.

Survey Overview Survey period: Sunday, March 22, 2026 - Tuesday, March 24, 2026 Survey method: Web questionnaire (using CrowdWorks) Survey target: Community users Number conducted: 100 people Valid response rate: 100% Number of valid responses: 100 people

Detailed Questionnaire Survey Results

### 1. Q1. Types of communities participated in (Multiple choice) Hobby-related communities account for the majority, indicating that the need for connections centered around common hobbies is the highest. This is followed by side job/business-related communities, with about 30% utilizing practical communities aimed at career and income advancement, showing a high awareness of self-investment.

### Q2. Number one trigger for participating SNS is the largest acquisition channel, proving that an SNS strategy is extremely important in information dissemination and community exposure. Referrals from acquaintances also account for 20%, showing that word-of-mouth and relationships of trust often serve as triggers. On the other hand, the rate of acquisition via advertisements is as low as 2%, suggesting that natural touchpoints are more effective than paid ads.

### Q3. Main purposes for participating (Multiple choice)