Ministry Warns About Walkie-Talkie Application "Ten Ten": Always On

Since its launch in April, the French application "Ten Ten" has become one of the most downloaded among young people. Some adults consider this app to be intrusive and threatening to teenagers.

Those born in the 2000s are unfamiliar with landline phones and many other devices that people used in the last century. The revival or imitation of old devices has become fashionable lately, appealing to both those who never knew them and those who are nostalgic for the analog world.

One such 'retro' device is the toy walkie-talkie that children and teenagers loved to play with 15 to 20 years ago. Recently, an app that simulates the effect of a walkie-talkie on your smartphone has become so popular among young people in France that it has raised concerns among adults.

In fact, the "Ten Ten" app performs the same functions as WhatsApp: it allows users to communicate quickly via their cell phones. This app is free and has very simple controls. With a click on the "Talk" button, you can send a voice message in real-time. "Ten Ten" is also convenient and comfortable because it works when you are using other apps or when your phone is in dark screen mode.

You can turn off the app or simply turn off the sound at any time, but the problem is that not all children have the awareness to do so. As a result, they spend the day chatting with friends, neglecting their homework, and staying up late at night.

Additionally, the ease of sending voice messages has raised concerns about possible misuse of the app. Fortunately, Ten Ten never saves sent messages. However, it can easily be used for inappropriate jokes and pranks, much like any other messaging app.

The main problem that worries some parents, school teachers, and even French authorities is the invasive nature of the app. As a result, the French Ministry of the Interior issued a warning about the risks of using "Ten Ten."

"'Ten Ten' behaves as if every communication is an emergency, which increases the pressure to be constantly available," commented youth psychologist Margareta Reinicke on the dangers of this app in an interview with the Swiss portal "20 Minutes." Parents are advised to check whether the app is always active on their children's phones.