What in the World

Where do you stand on voice notes? In some places, sending a three minute - or even 20 minute(!) voice memo is totally normal and actually seen as much more personal than texting.
It started back in 2013 on WhatsApp but now you can send voice messages on Instagram as well as some dating sites. Lots of people love them as you can send messages on the go and don’t have to worry about typos. BUT is it selfish or indulgent to send them? Some people say they demand more time for the person receiving them and it’s not always practical to listen to them, especially if you’re at work.
In this episode we unpack why voice messages are more popular in some countries and some of the voice message etiquette with BBC reporter Ashitha Nagesh. We also hear from some of our BBC friends around the world - why do you love or hate them?
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Chelsea Coates, Jenna Abaakouk, Emily Horler and Julia Ross-Roy
Editor: Verity Wilde

Chappell Roan recently faced backlash amid online chat that falsely claimed her bodyguard left a young fan in tears. But reports now suggest the entire online drama could have been driven by bots programmed to spread misinformation.
The BBC’s disinformation reporter Jacqui Wakefield explains what bots are, how they work, and what the people who operate them stand to gain. State actors and governments have been linked to specific bot campaigns in the past. BBC Monitoring’s Veronika Malinboym looks at some of the bot activity linked to Russia, including a campaign to undermine the Summer Olympics in Paris by spreading misinformation about a bed bugs outbreak.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Iqra Farooq
Producer: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden
Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Instagram has switched off one of its privacy policy options - end‑to‑end encryption.
If an app has it, it means your messages can only be read by the sender and the recipient.
But now Meta, who owns Insta has turned off that option. And it doesn’t just own Instagram - it’s also in charge of Facebook and WhatsApp, so people are worried about what could happen on those platforms in the future.
Joe Tidy, the BBC’s Cyber Correspondent, takes us through why are is Instagram pulling the plug on end to end encryption - and what does it mean for you?
Plus, Anushka, an Insta user in India gives us her take and Andre Najee, a cyber security content creator, tells us his tips for staying private online.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Emily Horler, Chelsea Coates and Benita Barden
Editor: Verity Wilde

You’ve probably grown up hearing his unmistakable voice in some of your favourite nature documentaries…we’re of course talking about Sir David Attenborough, who turns 100 this Friday. He’s been making wildlife films for more than 70 years, turning nature documentaries into must-see TV and inspiring people all over the world to learn more about the wonders of our planet.
But he hasn’t just changed the way we see the natural world - he’s also alerted us to how rapidly it’s changing because of climate change, and has influenced policy and public perceptions in the process.
In this episode, we look back at some of his most iconic moments. Our climate and science correspondent, Georgina Rannard, tells us how he’s changed the world - and we hear how he’s inspired lots of you to take action on climate change.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Mora Morrison, Chelsea Coates, Makuochi Okafor and Jenna Abaakouk
Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Saunas and cold plunges are getting really popular and people say they can boost your mood and come with all sorts of health benefits. So we sent Hannah off to try them out and see what she thought…
In this episode we talk about why so many people are into saunas and cold plunges with Emilia Jansson, a BBC journalist and our resident Finn. Plus we’ll hear if there’s evidence that they’re actually good for you with James Gallagher, our Science and Health Correspondent.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Emily Horler, Chelsea Coates and Ash Mohamed
Editor: Verity Wilde