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Digital portal between Dublin and NYC shuts down after just one week

Credit: Flatiron Nomad
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London, UK
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This is why we can’t have nice things.

What happens when a digital ‘portal’ is placed on the streets of Dublin and New York City with the aim of encouraging residents to connect and interact with each other through a live video stream?

If you answered something along the lines of ‘a strengthened sense of humanity’s bond,’ bless your soul. The correct answer is debauchery, of course.

Despite the good intentions of the project’s creators, who believed the Portal would give European and American streetgoers a unique opportunity to peer into each other’s lives from across the Atlantic, the livestream has attracted a number people with more lewd acts in mind.

In New York, for example, an OnlyFans model stood before the camera, lifted her top, and exposed her bare chest to a surprised audience on the other side.

Dubliners had their own idea of fun, including throwing eggs, mooning, holding up their phones with ‘RIP POP SMOKE’ typed out, and others displayed images of the Twin Towers burning on 9/11.

Each of these moments were filmed and shared across social media, causing the Portal not to go viral for its novelty, but for its meme-worthy shock factor. And while the internet got a kick out of the irresistible urges humans have to be silly – not everyone was impressed.

Citing ‘inappropriate behaviours’ the Dublin City Council announced that the installation has been temporarily shut down after just one week in action.

 

While the portal is shut momentarily, its creators are working on ‘possible technical solutions’ to combat its misuse ‘by a small minority of people’.

In a statement penned by Dublin’s City Council, it was suggested that blurring software would’ve been the preferred method for combating inappropriate stunts, however this option has been deemed unsuitable.

Granted a couple software tweaks are completed, it’s rumoured the installation should be back up and running soon. Both the Portal’s creators and Dublin City Council are happy about the response to the installation so far, stating:

‘We are delighted by how many people have been enjoying the Portal since it was launched last week. It has become a global phenomenon, and it is important to note that the overwhelming majority of people interacting with the Dublin Portal have behaved appropriately.’

It’s true. Despite the cheeky flash of middle fingers and sexually explicit moments that went viral for their shock factor, there were many heart-warming moments that weren’t as widely shared.

People with loved ones living across the pond scheduled times to meet on either sides of the portal. Others waved, blew kisses, or wrote short and sweet messages to each other.

At the end of the day, it was a little naïve to think that a live video stream between two cities would be entirely wholesome and without hiccups in its initial days. Humans, after all, are silly by nature.

Let’s hope that this trial run leads to software improvements that allow more portals to pop up, connecting people in various cities across the world.

Senior Writer & Media Coordinator London, UK

I’m Jessica (She/Her). Originally from Bermuda, I moved to London to get a Master’s degree in Media & Communications and now write for Thred to spread the word about positive social change, specifically ocean health and marine conservation. You can also find me dipping my toes into other subjects like pop culture, health, wellness, style, and beauty.  Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.

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