Our favorite stories

Eli Berger, Chief of Staff: As a language nerd, this was by far my favorite RoW piece of the past year. From the personal appeal to Tim Cook to learning about the beautiful nuances of Urdu that make digitizing its script so challenging, I felt that this story perfectly captured the idea that technological progress benefits some and not others — the idea of language extinction is terrifying! — highlighting one of the many inherent risks of a Western-dominated lens.

Sophie Schmidt, Founder & CEO: Perfect example of a tech feature that looks like an extreme one-off to a Western reader (“That could never happen here!“) but in fact is part of an evolving global understanding of how nudges can drive human behavior. The history of tech tells us that successful ideas have no borders — don’t sleep on signals like these, because soon you’ll be faced with them too.

Louise Matsakis, Senior Editor: Alizeh vividly captured how frustrating it can be to live in a place like Gilgit Baltistan. I couldn’t get over how ironic it was that a major internet cable project ran through the region, while the people there remained unconnected. I remember reading this feature while curled up in bed during the holidays and thinking how grateful I was that Rest of World existed and I had the opportunity to be a part of it.

Vittoria Elliott, Reporter-Researcher: It is notoriously hard to report on North Korea, especially in a way that avoids all the pitfalls of the “Hermit Kingdom” tropes. I loved that we found a way to talk about this place through the experiences of defectors who are trying to offer texture to their own lives online.

Cengiz Yar, Photo Editor: Kaya Genç’s ability to draw out the unique, beautiful details of place and history is highlighted in his second article for Rest of World. This piece explains the intricate ways delivery apps are changing the fabric of Istanbul’s neighborhoods. Plus quotes like “‘E-commerce will never work in Turkey! A Turk would never buy a tomato without smelling it first!”

Devi Lockwood, Assistant Editor: I loved the way that this story looks at Facebook as a digital graveyard of sorts. The storytelling goes deep into the people who choose to remember their loved ones in this format online, and why. It’s a sticky subject that I can’t get out of my head, even months later.

Jessica Loudis, Features Editor: A terrific piece of media archaeology and an insightful look at how unintended tech uses can end up shaping an economy — and by extension, a culture.

Andrew Deck, Reporter-Researcher: I remember hearing the news of Sarah Hegazi’s death on social media and feeling so much sadness. This piece documented a conflict on the Arabic-speaking internet over how the Egyptian LGBTQ+ activist’s story should be told or if it should be told at all. It was able to capture the complexity of that moment and the weight of her legacy for so many through the most unconventional of lenses — Wikipedia moderation.

Hanson O’Haver, Audience Editor: This story really highlights the way timeless scams get updated and refracted through new technology and social trends. Feminist-tinged pyramid schemes gaining traction on Argentine WhatsApp groups? Plus ça change…

Leo Schwartz, Contributing Reporter: So much attention on Israel’s tech scene focuses on its unbridled dominance without examining the underlying factors — and the exaggerations. This article reads almost like a spy novel, delving into the country’s cybersecurity pipeline, the institutions that make it happen, and the people who don’t necessarily agree with the traditional narrative.