TenTen: The trending French app that divides

In recent months, TenTen has become the favorite app of Generation Z, with over a million new users in France within a month. This French-made social network, leading downloads on the Apple Store and Android, allows users to send real-time voice messages to their virtual friends, like a walkie-talkie. A playful concept... but intrusive.

Sing it, shout it, or whisper it... your friends will hear you live on their phones, even if their screen is locked!

The app’s slogan on download platforms sets the tone. However, this instant and intrusive message transmission raises significant privacy and security concerns, especially since the French company requires a lot of personal data to operate.

In addition to "standard" information like name, surname, nickname, and phone number, the app also accesses users" contacts to facilitate connections. Refusing to share this data makes registration impossible. The app also automatically collects users' IP addresses, as well as their browser and device characteristics, raising concerns about online security. The platform does, however, assure that conversations are ephemeral and not stored.

Another major challenge posed by Ten Ten is its intrusive, even overwhelming nature. Users cannot escape voice messages except by turning on airplane mode or setting their phone to silent with the Do Not Disturb option. This omnipresence can become quite bothersome, especially in a classroom setting, potentially causing significant disruptions in the educational environment.

In this regard, testimonials from teachers highlight the issues posed by the platform. Marie-Noëlle, 50, is a teacher in Meurthe-et-Moselle. She shares her experience with the app, which she was not familiar with until it suddenly appeared during a class with high school students:

Hearing a personal message out loud in the middle of a class is surprising and disturbing. It disrupts the flow of the class and shows a lack of respect for the teacher. It is difficult to maintain students' attention in this setting: everyone wants to hear the message and find out where it is coming from.

Following this incident, the teacher took some time to discuss with her students:

They are aware of the intrusive nature of the app but shared their difficulty in resisting the trend it creates, especially in a context where social bonds are largely formed through digital networks. It is understandable. While Ten Ten can be fun and spontaneous, the platform can also disrupt concentration and respect in environments like schools.

However, she acknowledged that in some cases, using Ten Ten can be beneficial, provided the app is used judiciously. “For example, for sharing homework outside of class, Ten Ten allows for increased responsiveness, thus fostering collaboration among students.”

What conclusions can be drawn? Indeed, with its innovative concept of instant communication, Ten Ten presents itself as a quite disruptive app that appeals to a highly connected audience. However, it poses significant challenges regarding privacy and respect for professional and educational environments, and its growing success might not last if these issues are not adequately addressed.

References:

• Futura Science - Why the French app Ten Ten, which has been a hit since its release, is causing so much concern?
• France Info - Ten Ten, the new app that takes on the walkie-talkie codes
• Libération - What is Ten Ten, the new French app making a noisy entrance into classrooms?

[Cover photo: Rob Hampson]

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