QUEEN’S ROAD: Technology they say has replaced human connection but for the young and the restless, Facebook and other social networking sites are still places to go to forge a bond, initiate a friendship, wishing someone a happy birthday or even stalking a crush. However, newer social apps make it easier, faster, and more fun to capture and share fleeting moments -- sometimes anonymously. And to create something unique.
When we spoke to some college students, they shared that these apps provide an environment that feels more appropriate to carry out random conversations. They also help in socialising with a larger group of people and are addictive.
“Facebook helps me to keep in touch with people from various parts of the world. To share photos and videos and now there are other applications which have replaced it with better features,” says Rushil Praveen.
He likes that the WhatsApp Messenger is a cross-platform mobile messaging app which allows him to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS. He also likes that WhatsApp is available for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Phone and Nokia and that those phones can all message each other! Because WhatsApp uses the same Internet data plan that you use for email and web browsing, it doesn’t cost to message and stay in touch with your friends, he says and adds, “In addition to basic messaging, WhatsApp has helped me to create groups, send unlimited images, videos and audio media messages.”
Oshin Verghese, another young student agrees, “Since it has a lot of users, it’s very convenient.” She likes making free calls and send ing voice notes.
Sneha Uthappa likes Viber, an application that lets users make free phone calls and send free text messages to anyone who has the application installed. Viber works on both 3G and Wifi networks.Says Sneha, ‘‘Viber is amazing and is one of the applications most used by youngsters like me because it’s a free messaging and free calling application. Nothing is charged and you can make video calls and the emojis are amazing. As are the funny stickers.”
She continues, “At first I didn’t find Viber that good, but then with the subsequent updates, it got better and I prefer it to Whatsapp.’’
Another favourite with the campus crowd is Snapchat, a video messaging application. Using the application, users can take photos, record videos, add text and drawings, and send them to a controlled list of recipients. These photographs and videos are known as ‘Snaps.’ Snapchat can be addictive and youngsters use it to send selfies or pictures of their daily activities and more. You can also add famous people by getting their usernames from social sites and can see their pictures and videos.
“Snapchat is an amazing application and instead of a long message, I would rather take a picture or a video and send it,’’ says Nrithya Bopanna.
Instagram’s The ‘Weekend Hashtag Project’ is a big hit with youngesters and it features designated themes and hashtags chosen by Instagram’s Community Team. Followers receive the weekend’s project every Friday, and each project encourages participants to post creative photographs according to the designated theme each weekend.
‘Throwback Thursday’ is a widely used trend on Instagram where users post pictures from the past with the hashtag #TBT. Instagram is used by youngsters to post selfies with different edits and videos. “Instagram has amazing edits and effects which make pictures look beautiful and you can see your favourite celebrities’ pictures and videos too,” says Nikkita Anil Kumar, adding that social networking has become not just about sharing but standing out in a sea of cliches.