Digital Discourse Database

Number of Posts: 24
Posts 21 - 24

For Millions of Immigrants, a Common Language: WhatsApp

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Newspaper | The New York Times
Date | 21.12.2016
Language | English
Country | U.S.
Topic Tags | privacy, WhatsApp
Summary | WhatsApp is hugely popular in South America, Europe, India, Africa, and among the masses of refugees fleeing from the Middle East at the moment. It has transformed the refugee and immigrant experience, enabling people who are in a lonely, desperate situation in their lives to stay connected with their loved ones. Refugees use WhatsApp for strategic communication as well, to call for help or let their families know that they are safe, they can send photographs and make free calls provided they have access to WiFi. Their WhatsApp communication is also encrypted, making it safe for those moving through different countries without legal permission. Expats and immigrants can now partake in the daily lives of their friends and family back home by easily sending pictures back and forth and simply communicating more - something that was very expensive even a few years ago.
Image Description | GIF of a WhatsApp icon globe spinning around.
Image Tags | logo, WhatsApp

Das sind die neuen Funktionen von Whatsapp

(These are the newest functions of WhatsApp)

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Newspaper | Der Bund
Date | 7.7.2016
Language | German
Country | Switzerland
Topic Tags | Snapchat, WhatsApp
Summary | New image editing and music features are supposed to be added to the messaging app WhatsApp. Funny filters, the possibility of adding stickers and drawing on pictures might be incorporated into WhatsApp – functions which are mainly known to be Snapchat features. Users will also be able to share music through the app and listen to it without having to download it. Further, it will be possible to join a group simply by clicking on a link.
Image Description | Photograph of a smartphone screen with different icons (WhatsApp, Skype, Viber) and a finger pointing to the WhatsApp icon. Screenshot of a Twitter account that mentions the new WhatsApp features.
Image Tags | hand(s), logo, Skype, smartphone, Twitter, Viber, WhatsApp

Hey, du Mensch!

(Hey, you human! )

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Newspaper | Die Zeit
Date | 15.4.2016
Language | German
Country | Germany
Topic Tags | artificial intelligence, Facebook, texting
Summary | Facebook has recently followed the footsteps of other large companies and implemented a chatbot in its messenger. Chatbots as conversational user interfaces are increasingly popular because smartphone users are reported to grow tired of having to download so many different apps. By enriching a social media service such as Facebook with a chatbot, users can enquire about things (e.g the weather) without changing platforms and using a mode that is familiar and comfortable for users: casual texting. The article however criticizes that chatbot technology is not very advanced and that it does not resemble human interaction yet.
Image Description | Photograph of a man texting in front of the Facebook Messenger logo, and screenshot of a Messenger chat.
Image Tags | Facebook, logo, male(s), smartphone, text

Wer nicht snapt, ist out

(Who doesn’t snap is out)

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Newspaper | B.Z. (Berlin)
Date | 1.5.2016
Language | German
Country | Germany
Topic Tags | Facebook, Snapchat, WhatsApp, youth
Summary | Snapchat is the new hot social media channel for the German youth. Now that the parent generation is uding Facebook and WhatsApp, teenagers are looking for digital spaces free of parental supervision. Snapchat is more aimed at visual rather than verbal communication, though now audio and video calls can be made. The article lists three new (not necessarily messaging) apps that are gaining popularity amongst young people: Miitomo, musical.ly, WeMesh.
Image Description | Screenshots of two snaps, and digital image of the Snapchat logo.
Image Tags | female(s), logo, Snapchat

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