currently I'm saving json data in a string type of column, are there benefits to making the type json?

In my project I am currently saving some json data in this column:

$table->string('meta')->nullable();

Are there any real benefits of using

$table->json('meta')->nullable();

Since my application must work with both MySQL and MariaDB I am not using any extra functions laravel offers for searching and updating json columns. So if we count these benefits out, are there any other benefits of using json over string for column that will be saving json data?

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