Gen Z Embraces 'Ultra-Slow Messaging' Apps as a Digital Detox

While the digital world thrives on instant communication, a counter-trend is emerging among America's Gen Z. Apps like 'Carrier Pigeon' are gaining traction, offering a stark contrast to the rapid-fire exchanges typical of platforms like Twitter (now X). Named after the historical use of pigeons for message delivery, Carrier Pigeon sends messages at speeds mimicking these birds, reaching up to 110 miles per hour. This means a message from Los Angeles to New York could take 22 hours, and New York to Chicago, six and a half hours.

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This season, I am looking at it as a return to life, a return to football.

Another app, 'Roost,' allows users to choose from various animals for delivery, including snails (1 mph), penguins (16 mph), and owls (20 mph). The inherent unreliability, mirroring the 0.2% of carrier pigeons that historically got lost, is part of the appeal. This uncertainty, coupled with real-time map tracking of the 'messenger,' creates anticipation for both sender and receiver, offering a novel form of engagement.

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If I became İrfan Can Eğribayat, it is of course thanks to Fenerbahçe. I will never forget this.

Experts suggest this embrace of 'slow tech' stems from 'digital fatigue.' In an era of constant notifications and the pressure to respond immediately, these slow messaging apps provide a respite. They alleviate the anxiety of 'read receipts' and missed reply windows, offering a more relaxed communication experience. Ironically, these apps are often built using advanced AI coding by developers in their 20s and 30s, showcasing a deliberate move towards intentional slowness.

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Playing against your former team is not easy. And playing in the first week was not easy at all.

This 'slow tech' movement extends beyond messaging. Apps like 'Gudak' (meaning 'old-fashioned' in Korean) mimic disposable film cameras. Users can only take 24 photos per roll, and after shooting, they must wait 72 hours to see the developed pictures, with no editing options. This process encourages users to be more thoughtful about each shot. Similarly, 'electronic typewriter' apps, which do not allow for corrections, prompt users to carefully consider their words before committing them to the digital page. Gen Z's engagement with these 'slow' technologies suggests a growing appreciation for deliberate action and the value of anticipation in an increasingly fast-paced world.

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I want to start this season as an İrfan who completely stays on the field. We had talked about this extensively with coach Metin before the transfer.