52360
Imagine that I live alone. Occasionally when I get home, I still want to
announce that I'm home (such as with a text message) because perhaps my
parents are making sure I got home safely or perhaps an online friend wants to
do stuff together.

Would ただいま still be an appropriate announcement here? Or is there some other
way to announce that I'm home to someone who is not physically present in the
house?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-15T16:29:21.920
52359
2017-08-16T04:37:57.673
25116
question
word-choice usage
Use of ただいま to others who are not physically present
I would use 今家に着いたよ or something along those lines.

You do occasionally see (for example, in novels), a person say ただいま to an
empty room to emphasize the speaker's lonesome state, such as if he's lost a
loved one, or that he's simply feeling lonely, etc. but you won't be saying
ただいま to someone who you're in conversation with.

A more modern youngster might well prefer something like 帰宅なう though... or is
that already too old?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-15T16:34:42.613
52360
2017-08-16T04:37:57.673
2017-08-16T04:37:57.673
9831
25280
52359
answer
If I were you, I would text to them

to your friend

"たった今、家に着きました。"

I have arrived home just now.

たった今 means just now

safety confirmation to your parents

無事に家に着きました。

I have arrived home safely

無事に means safely

Hope it helps.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-15T16:37:22.763
52361
2017-08-15T16:50:14.730
2017-08-15T16:50:14.730
52359
answer