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Cops and Chechens: TikTok duo become unlikely stars

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Cops and Chechens: TikTok duo become unlikely stars

Image: – © AFP Kazuhiro NOGI

Blaise GAUQUELIN

Middle-aged Austrian police officer Uwe and hip young Chechen social worker Ahmad may look like an unlikely duo, but their TikTok videos have become a huge hit in Austria.

For years the Vienna police have been mulling over ways to reach out to the city’s large community of Chechen exiles to break down stereotypes on both sides and improve dialogue.

Young Chechens feel targeted by the police, and say they are unfairly associated with crime and religious extremism in the media.

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It didn’t help that in 2021 Austrian police officers were convicted of beating a Chechen after being caught on security cameras.

It was at a meeting last year between police and Chechens to discuss ways forward, that Ahmad suggested doing Q&A-style video clips about Austrian laws and rules and regulations.

“I had a lot of problems with the police,” said the 23-year-old, who left the troubled Caucasus republic as a small child.

“But I had no one I could ask what I was allowed to do and what I wasn’t — or even where I could get legal advice.

“When I went to the police station to ask something, I was often insulted by the officers,” he told AFP.

Listening to him that day at the meeting was Uwe, the 59-year-old neighbourhood police officer who would become the other half of their double act.

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– ‘People want selfies with me’ –

Since November, the duo dubbed “Cop and Che”, have been shooting short clips addressing a wide variety of issues from drugs to “What happens if I don’t have my papers?” or  “What am I risking by doing graffiti?”

But it was their video on the legalities of using firecrackers at New Year that literally rocketed them to success.

So far, their videos, filmed with a mobile phone at a shopping mall in Vienna, have been viewed over 2.6 million times — a huge audience in a country of nine million people.

Even teachers use the clips — which often tap into humour to get their point across — in schools.

“For us, maintaining a dialogue is one of the most important things” when it comes to integration, said Uwe.

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The grey-haired police officer often enlists Ahmad’s help to decipher the expressions and emojis used by teenagers in their comments below their videos.

For the project to take off, “the police had to agree to hear our criticism so that we could work on a basis of mutual trust,” said Ahmad.

To build bridges, especially with young Chechens, the police initially proposed football matches and chess games.

“If you want to reach out to young people, that’s not going to work,” said Ahmad.

Yet, neither “Cop” nor “Che” could have guessed that the videos would take on a life of their own, reaching not only Austria’s 35,000 Chechens but also other youngsters who would never dare to ask police questions in real life.

“Young people recognise me and want to take selfies with me,” said Uwe, who has never tasted fame before in his 40-year career.

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Ahmad, however, has been feeling the downside of their success as well as the good, with some accusing him of siding with the police.

“But I don’t care, I do what I want,” he said.

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Snapchat Explores New Messaging Retention Feature: A Game-Changer or Risky Move?

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Snapchat Explores New Messaging Retention Feature: A Game-Changer or Risky Move?

In a recent announcement, Snapchat revealed a groundbreaking update that challenges its traditional design ethos. The platform is experimenting with an option that allows users to defy the 24-hour auto-delete rule, a feature synonymous with Snapchat’s ephemeral messaging model.

The proposed change aims to introduce a “Never delete” option in messaging retention settings, aligning Snapchat more closely with conventional messaging apps. While this move may blur Snapchat’s distinctive selling point, Snap appears convinced of its necessity.

According to Snap, the decision stems from user feedback and a commitment to innovation based on user needs. The company aims to provide greater flexibility and control over conversations, catering to the preferences of its community.

Currently undergoing trials in select markets, the new feature empowers users to adjust retention settings on a conversation-by-conversation basis. Flexibility remains paramount, with participants able to modify settings within chats and receive in-chat notifications to ensure transparency.

Snapchat underscores that the default auto-delete feature will persist, reinforcing its design philosophy centered on ephemerality. However, with the app gaining traction as a primary messaging platform, the option offers users a means to preserve longer chat histories.

The update marks a pivotal moment for Snapchat, renowned for its disappearing message premise, especially popular among younger demographics. Retaining this focus has been pivotal to Snapchat’s identity, but the shift suggests a broader strategy aimed at diversifying its user base.

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This strategy may appeal particularly to older demographics, potentially extending Snapchat’s relevance as users age. By emulating features of conventional messaging platforms, Snapchat seeks to enhance its appeal and broaden its reach.

Yet, the introduction of message retention poses questions about Snapchat’s uniqueness. While addressing user demands, the risk of diluting Snapchat’s distinctiveness looms large.

As Snapchat ventures into uncharted territory, the outcome of this experiment remains uncertain. Will message retention propel Snapchat to new heights, or will it compromise the platform’s uniqueness?

Only time will tell.

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Catering to specific audience boosts your business, says accountant turned coach

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Catering to specific audience boosts your business, says accountant turned coach

While it is tempting to try to appeal to a broad audience, the founder of alcohol-free coaching service Just the Tonic, Sandra Parker, believes the best thing you can do for your business is focus on your niche. Here’s how she did just that.

When running a business, reaching out to as many clients as possible can be tempting. But it also risks making your marketing “too generic,” warns Sandra Parker, the founder of Just The Tonic Coaching.

“From the very start of my business, I knew exactly who I could help and who I couldn’t,” Parker told My Biggest Lessons.

Parker struggled with alcohol dependence as a young professional. Today, her business targets high-achieving individuals who face challenges similar to those she had early in her career.

“I understand their frustrations, I understand their fears, and I understand their coping mechanisms and the stories they’re telling themselves,” Parker said. “Because of that, I’m able to market very effectively, to speak in a language that they understand, and am able to reach them.” 

“I believe that it’s really important that you know exactly who your customer or your client is, and you target them, and you resist the temptation to make your marketing too generic to try and reach everyone,” she explained.

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“If you speak specifically to your target clients, you will reach them, and I believe that’s the way that you’re going to be more successful.

Watch the video for more of Sandra Parker’s biggest lessons.

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Instagram Tests Live-Stream Games to Enhance Engagement

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Instagram Tests Live-Stream Games to Enhance Engagement

Instagram’s testing out some new options to help spice up your live-streams in the app, with some live broadcasters now able to select a game that they can play with viewers in-stream.

As you can see in these example screens, posted by Ahmed Ghanem, some creators now have the option to play either “This or That”, a question and answer prompt that you can share with your viewers, or “Trivia”, to generate more engagement within your IG live-streams.

That could be a simple way to spark more conversation and interaction, which could then lead into further engagement opportunities from your live audience.

Meta’s been exploring more ways to make live-streaming a bigger consideration for IG creators, with a view to live-streams potentially catching on with more users.

That includes the gradual expansion of its “Stars” live-stream donation program, giving more creators in more regions a means to accept donations from live-stream viewers, while back in December, Instagram also added some new options to make it easier to go live using third-party tools via desktop PCs.

Live streaming has been a major shift in China, where shopping live-streams, in particular, have led to massive opportunities for streaming platforms. They haven’t caught on in the same way in Western regions, but as TikTok and YouTube look to push live-stream adoption, there is still a chance that they will become a much bigger element in future.

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Which is why IG is also trying to stay in touch, and add more ways for its creators to engage via streams. Live-stream games is another element within this, which could make this a better community-building, and potentially sales-driving option.

We’ve asked Instagram for more information on this test, and we’ll update this post if/when we hear back.

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