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[Am author] I chose WhatsApp because it was a good example for a case study and because recent events made it a hot topic. I also described two non-WhatsApp exa

by Seirdy 6y ago

[Am author] I chose WhatsApp because it was a good example for a case study and because recent events made it a hot topic. I also described two non-WhatsApp examples exhibiting user domestication (one of which wasn't even an instant messenger). It wasn't my intention to imply that WhatsApp was the first instant messenger to exhibit these behaviors; I even linked to a Wikipedia article comparing instant messenger protocols to illustrate how WhatsApp wasn't a newcomer. That being said, several others have mentioned how WhatsApp wasn't the first IM platform of its kind. When a misinterpretation is this prevalent, it's the author's (i.e. my) fault: https://xkcd.com/1984/ https://xkcd.com/1984/ I've since updated the article to clarify that point. Diff: https://git.sr.ht/~seirdy/seirdy.one/commit/93846a469b5581ec3d3dd91172292e25cfc6695a https://git.sr.ht/~seirdy/seirdy.one/commit/93846a469b5581ec... > It then made its point about User domestication. Which really is a FOSS, GPL, Richard Stallman angle on Software. I argue it would be the same with many of today's software. So did I; I listed two more examples. User domestication is a widespread problem worth addressing. WhatsApp is a good example.

Freak_NL 6y ago
WhatsApp is an extremely apt and relevant example. None of the other examples has the reach WhatsApp has: literally over 90% of the adult population in some countries — I know the Netherlands is close to this. That's huge! A minor comment on the second rule for WhatsApp users: > Everyone’s mobile device must run an operating system supported by said client. This also implies that everyone must own a (not too old) smartphone running either of those two OSes, with the user having accepted a EULA for the respective app-stores. I feel strongly that the requirement of using a smartphone even when a (not too old) desktop or laptop computer is available and technically capable of performing the same client-side tasks is a significant curbing of a user's software freedom. It may warrant mentioning explicitly.

by Seirdy 6y ago

Freak_NL 6y ago

WhatsApp is an extremely apt and relevant example. None of the other examples has the reach WhatsApp has: literally over 90% of the adult population in some countries — I know the Netherlands is close to this. That's huge! A minor comment on the second rule for WhatsApp users: > Everyone’s mobile device must run an operating system supported by said client. This also implies that everyone must own a (not too old) smartphone running either of those two OSes, with the user having accepted a EULA for the respective app-stores. I feel strongly that the requirement of using a smartphone even when a (not too old) desktop or laptop computer is available and technically capable of performing the same client-side tasks is a significant curbing of a user's software freedom. It may warrant mentioning explicitly.