SLAS Times 2015/2016 Winter 2015 PDF | Page 16

POWER OF CHATTING APPS BY TSUBASA KAZARI Today, many Internet applications (or apps) help and change people’s life styles. Moreover, people are becoming increasingly dependent on Internet apps. Phone based chatting apps are the most commonly used apps for people. However, not many people are aware of the impact that phone based chatting apps have on their lives. and send money on these apps. Some people use many types of chatting apps but these apps are useddifferently in the othercountries. For example, most American people use Facebook, Japanese people use Line, Korean people use Kakaotalk, and Wechat is used by most Chinese people. “I think using chatting apps is a good way to be friend A 10th grade Japanese student named Taro Ikeda with people from all around the world.” said, “I am using two chatting apps which are Wechat statedSooyeon Nam, 10th grade Korean student. She and Line.” According to Taro, there are positive and also added, “I talk with my friend about homework, negative ramifications to using chatting apps. A hobby, and school life onWechat and Kakaotalk. positive characteristic to using these apps is that he Doing so gets rid of my stress.” can act friendly with other people. On the contrary, a negative characteristic to using these apps is that There are not only positive influences but also he can’t tell people emotional or feelings. negative influences from using chatting apps. However, it is sure that chatting apps are very There are many kinds of chatting apps in the world. necessary and important for student daily life. For this These include Facebook, Twitter, Wechat, Kakaotalk, reason, people have to use those Internet apps Line, and so on. People are not only able to chat but appropriately and responsibly. also send pictures, website links, make video calls, 16