On 12/24/2012 05:10 PM, Maxim Kammerer wrote: > I think that the reason is simple and obvious: society shifts to > preferring more impersonal communication. Same reason that teenagers > prefer texting to talking on phone, and hanging out to dating.
>From what I can tell, it is the exact opposite. The ease of use and persistent connected design of these apps (aka you have these always-on, long running group chat rooms), and the ability to quickly send voice messages and video, makes it MORE personal. The users feel a constant connection to a whole group of friends no matter where they are on the planet, and can, with a press of a button, reach out and hear their voice. I am not saying this is a global phenom, applicable to all societies. I think within this occupied/exile dynamic, and also where standard telecomms are difficult, the impact of apps like WeChat and WhatsApp is perhaps greater than places where Skype, Facetime and Hangout work well. +n -- Unsubscribe, change to digest, or change password at: https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/liberationtech
