Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram are down

Schönebeck – What a disaster! At least that’s what young people who use social networks thought. The popular services Facebook, Whatsapp and Instagram were offline on Monday evening. The Schönebeck high school student Louisa Schwenke (16) speaks in an interview with Volksstimme reporter Andre Schneider about the quiet Monday evening, the daily use of social networks and how they influence everyday life.

Louisa, Monday night came as a shock to many cell phone users. How did you experience the failure of the social networks Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp?

For me this evening was more relaxed than usual. I didn’t sit in front of the cell phone that much. I’ve had time to read or do other things that I like. The evening wasn’t too bad because I have other messengers in an emergency that I can access in urgent cases. It’s good to know that the features didn’t work for other people either.

Please describe your user behavior.

I use social media almost every day, mostly Whatsapp and Instagram, and occasionally Twitter. I use Whatsapp to write with friends and family, but also for school to discuss things with others. I use Instagram for everything: political education, to post pictures, to see pictures of friends and to interact to see acquaintances again. I also use it to find photos from unknown places. I discover something new there every day. My screen time is around two to three hours a day. I spend most of that time on social media.

On Instagram, in particular, you often post stories, i.e. short film or video clips from your everyday life. What is this shape for you?

I post less from my everyday life. Unless I’m in interesting places or post important photos of the meal (laughs). Most of the time I use the stories to share important topics with others and to draw attention to them.

How do others perceive your forms of communication? Do you get feedback? What are the reactions like?

I get a lot of feedback from others on my mostly political posts – both positive and negative. Most of the time, this results in very good and insightful discussions in which I can hear new points of view and develop new arguments for myself. With that I have reached the goal of these story posts.

Do you find yourself in situations to produce the best possible pictures for social networks? How do you proceed?

I consciously take photos that I upload for Instagram. It is not important to me that they are absolutely perfect. Users should recognize the pleasant surroundings and the atmosphere. But I’ve never put myself in a dangerous or uncomfortable situation for a photo and I don’t intend to do that for now.

In the US media recently allegations surfaced that Instagram is increasing social pressure, especially among young girls. The reason is the representation of “perfect worlds”. Do you feel this pressure?

I noticed that myself. Not only young girls are affected by this, but many people from all walks of life. It’s not about the pressure of the “perfect world”, but also about having to be online all the time because there is always new news. You have the feeling of being left behind if you want to take a day off. I myself have already experienced the myth of the “perfect world”, but have since discovered that none of it is as it is portrayed.

How do you deal with that?

I can’t answer that flatly. Social media have a lot of facets. In any case, these media should not provide a place for hatred and violence. They should be a networking place. Much more education and prevention for cyber bullying would be important (targeted, malicious virtual attacks on individuals, editor’s note).

You recently joined the Left Party. How do social networks influence your political work there?

Without the various political activists I met through social media, I would not have become who I am today. Social media laid the foundation for my political activism.

Some time ago you launched “Catcalls Schönebeck” – an Instagram page against sexual harassment. The page has been blank since then. Why is that?

We do not receive any mailings for chalking. But we are working on other campaigns so that this site gets more support.

Finally: can you imagine a world without social networks? What should this look like?

I couldn’t imagine a world without social media today. I know a lot of people whose finances depend on it. So in a world without social media, money should play less of a role.

–