We visited this one-of-a-kind social media-themed cafe.

In the blink of an eye, Facebook Japan will soon be turning 11 years old. In order to commemorate the special occasion, the company has opened a unique pop-up store in Harajuku for a very brief period starting from 17 May to 19 May.

While few things attract the attention of our Japanese-language reporter Ahiru Neko, a man who was most recently captivated by getting rich by having birds poop on him, the Facebook Cafe’s rumored free pancakes and drinks were enough to draw him out of the office.

▼ Who would have thought a social media-themed cafe would pop out of nowhere?

▼ The cafe had a chic and stylish vibe to it…

▼ …while the wooden interior gave off a cozy feel.

▼ Surprisingly, the staff gave him a checklist that tested his knowledge
of Facebook privacy and security.

Staring at the sheet in puzzlement, Ahiru felt like a student who spent the last six months playing video games and was suddenly asked to take a surprise exam. Good thing all it contained were five yes-or-no questions:

“How well do you understand the security and privacy settings of Facebook and Instagram?

Q1. Do you know how to determine who can see your posts?

Q2. Do you know how to set a two-factor authentication for Facebook and Instagram?

Q3. Do you know how to report any inappropriate content on Facebook and Instagram?

Q4. Do you know how to block users on Facebook and Instagram?

Q5. Do you know how to create Instagram Stories and specify which followers to share your posts with?”

Depending on how the questions were answered, customers would apparently receive a free Facebook emoji pancake selected from three different flavors.

▼ The “Sad” white chocolate looked cute…

▼ …and the “Wow” caramel chocolate even more so.

▼ But the “Love” dark chocolate looked most enticing.

Skimming through the checklist, Ahiru casually circled “NO” for all his answers as if it were of no importance. All he wanted was free pancake, not an exam that would hurt his brains just thinking about it. If anything, the reporter was proud he went around the Internet without any care in the world. The way he thought real men did.

▼ The words “security” and “privacy” might as well not have existed in Ahiru’s dictionary.

▼ He received a sad face for his reckless effort.

“Do I really need to know all these complex Facebook terminology? What do I look like, a professor?” muttered an indignant Ahiru.

▼ The emoji merely cried silently in reply.

Sad or no, the bright yellow Facebook emoji appeared to mock him with imaginary words, saying something like: “It appears you do not fully understand security and privacy rules to safely use social media. Since you are naive to a fault, it is only fitting that you deserve this innocent white chocolate sauce.”

▼ Ahiru abruptly realized he held a knife in his trembling hand.
The voice had hit too close to home.

It dawned on him that Facebook Cafe set up the store to raise people’s awareness about security, yet his hand did not stop until he heard the knife’s clink on the plate.

▼ “No one knows my shame now,” he whispered softly, eyes burning intensely.

Ahiru was glad he chose iced tea over iced coffee and lemonade. Although they were all free beverages, the soothing tea suited his frayed nerves right then.

▼ He calmed down somewhat after a swig…

▼ …and carefully surveyed his handiwork.
There would be no voices now.

In a guilty sort of way, our nutty reporter was glad the Facebook Cafe lasted only until 19 May. Who knew how many sad emoji faces he might end up cutting if it remained open longer?

With a determined set to his jaw, he ventured onward for more tasty treats before calling it a day. Maybe some mini pancakes skewered on a stick would do the trick and help satiate his bloodlust.

Store information
Facebook Cafe
Address: Tokyo-to, Shibuya-ku, Jingumae, 5-16-13, Six Harajuku Terrace Aloha Amigo Harajuku Shop
東京都渋谷区神宮前5-16-13 シックスハラジュクテラス　アロハアミーゴ原宿
Open: 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. until 19 May,

Source: Facebook Cafe
Images: ©SoraNews24
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[ Read in Japanese ]