Today, social networks are the most popular and widely used applications among smartphone users all around the world. Three years ago, the Telegram messaging app was the most widely used social messaging app in Iran due to its technical features and user-friendliness. Despite its popularity, Telegram caused controversial debates among policymakers and public opinion. To discover the nature of these conflicts, two main discourses were identified through qualitative data analysis based on Laclau and Mouffe’s discourse theory. Proponents of Minaret discourse consider the Telegram as a threat to national security, thus they have tried to provide favorable condition to limit using it, and develop alternative domestic apps. In contrast, Cylinder discourse supports using the Telegram app to fulfill citizens’ digital rights and their rights of privacy and freedom of expression. This discursive conflict among policymakers, along with users’ resistance, resulted in some failures in the adoption of foreign apps (e.g., Telegram). Despite the extensive technical, financial, and moral supports to popularize domestic apps, users still prefer foreign apps such as Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram. The analysis of emergent discourses demonstrates the origins of contestations and provides insights into how to adopt social messaging apps.

如今，社交网络是全球智能手机用户最流行和最广泛使用的应用程序。三年前，由于其技术特点和用户友好性，Telegram 消息应用程序是伊朗使用最广泛的社交消息应用程序。尽管电报很受欢迎，但它在政策制定者和公众舆论中引起了有争议的辩论。为了发现这些冲突的本质，基于拉克劳和墨菲的话语理论，通过定性数据分析确定了两种主要话语。Minaret 话语的支持者认为 Telegram 是对国家安全的威胁，因此他们试图提供有利条件来限制使用它，并开发替代的国内应用程序。相比之下，Cylinder discourse 支持使用 Telegram 应用程序来实现公民的数字权利以及他们的隐私权和言论自由权。政策制定者之间的这种话语冲突以及用户的抵制导致在采用外国应用程序（例如 Telegram）方面出现了一些失败。尽管在普及国内应用程序方面有广泛的技术、资金和精神支持，但用户仍然更喜欢国外应用程序，例如 Telegram、WhatsApp 和 Instagram。对新兴话语的分析展示了争论的起源，并提供了有关如何采用社交消息应用程序的见解。和道义上的支持普及国内应用，用户仍然更喜欢国外应用，如 Telegram、WhatsApp 和 Instagram。对新兴话语的分析展示了争论的起源，并提供了有关如何采用社交消息应用程序的见解。和道义上的支持普及国内应用，用户仍然更喜欢国外应用，如 Telegram、WhatsApp 和 Instagram。对新兴话语的分析展示了争论的起源，并提供了有关如何采用社交消息应用程序的见解。