To the Point
Snapchat and the Future of an Erasable Internet
Apps like Snapchat, Whisper and Telegram let you send photos and messages that erase themselves after they’re opened. Are they models for the future of the Internet?
By Barbara Bogaev • • 51m ListenPrivacy and the Internet is one of the defining controversies of our age. Apps like Snapchat promise temporary, fleeting ways to communicate, with data disappearing nearly as fast you send it. Guest host Barbara Bogaev looks into how well they deliver on this promise, and whether they could be the model for the future. Also, Iraq sees an uptick in sectarian violence, and we take a comparative look at the companies that offer analysis of your genetic traits and health conditions.
Banner image: Sean Habibi
In this episode
3 storiesIraq Sees Uptick in Sectarian Violence
Fighting continues in Iraq today as government forces try to wrest control of two key towns from Sunni militants linked to Al Qaeda. The violence takes place in western Anbar province, near Syria. Militant troops have reportedly taken over police stations and jails. Government troops are responding with air strikes, tanks and mortars.
Read the story8 minThis Post Will Self-Destruct in 7 Seconds
With every click, tap and swipe on our digital devices we're creating massive amounts of data — messages, purchases, status updates – and we're archiving everything we do for companies, security agencies and other interested parties to see, sometimes without our permission. How to deal with the burden of our data trails?
Read the story35 minHome Genetic Testing
New technology is flooding the market with home genetics testing. For $99 and a swab of your cheek, 23andMe offers consumers ancestry data and, until recently, personalized information about genetic traits and health conditions.
Read the story9 min
