Telegram, the messaging app associated with far-right conspiracy theorists and the antimandate protesters who occupied Parliament's grounds, now has 700 million monthly users.
That's a remarkable number for an app with a fraction of the brand recognition of Instagram, Facebook Messenger or even TikTok. Twitter, the social network that serves as a sort of digital town square for the world, and which tech billionaire Elon Musk offered to buy in April for US$44 billion, has just 330 million monthly users.
What explains the recent rise of Telegram, which was founded in 2013 by Russian brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov? Facebook's growth-at-all-costs business strategy and the resulting erosion of trust it created haven't seen a mass exodus of users from its various messaging apps Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram - which have more than three billion users between them.
But millions of people are clearly holding more of their conversations on alternative platforms such as Telegram and its rival, Signal, which are perceived to be more secure and private.
Esta historia es de la edición July 9 - 15, 2022 de New Zealand Listener.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.
