"Hikikomori" is a Japanese word that literally translates "to remain on the sidelines" and refers to those who decide to withdraw from social life for extended periods of time (months or years), staying in their own home and having as few contacts as possible, including those with family members. This attitude is becoming increasingly common, particularly among young people aged 14 to 30, primarily males (between 70% and 90%), but females are also represented.

In short, contacts are not desired, are not sought, and are actively avoided. People around them feel discomfort and fatigue when relating to them, and the state of closure inevitably results in missed opportunities, a diminished sense of gratitude for life, and frequently forces the person who makes this choice to be alone with the internet, devices, and - in the best cases - books. This condition can also become a haven from academic, work, or school life, especially if there are social challenges and complicated interactions to deal with. Sometimes it is a reaction to something we are told, declared, a comment, or treated in a way that hurts us.