The Rise of Koo

Koo was founded by entrepreneurs Aprameya Radhakrishna and Mayank Bidawatka with the vision of creating a social media platform tailored to the needs of Indian users. The app gained significant traction, particularly during periods of heightened tensions between the Indian government and international tech giants like Twitter. Prominent figures, including politicians, celebrities, and government officials, were quick to adopt Koo, leveraging its multilingual capabilities to reach a broader audience.

Why Koo Stood Out

One of Koo’s standout features was its support for a variety of Indian languages, including Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, and more. This linguistic inclusivity allowed users from different regions to communicate and share their thoughts in their native languages, making the platform a unique and inclusive digital space.

Additionally, Koo’s user-friendly interface and commitment to adhering to local laws and regulations helped it gain favor among Indian users who were seeking an alternative to Western social media platforms. The app’s ability to provide a space for regional discourse and its alignment with the “Vocal for Local” initiative resonated deeply with its user base.

Challenges Faced by Koo

Despite its initial success and rapid growth, Koo faced several challenges that ultimately led to its shutdown. The primary issue cited by the founders was the difficulty in sustaining business operations amidst fierce competition from well-established global platforms. Monetization proved to be a significant hurdle, as the platform struggled to attract enough advertisers and generate sufficient revenue to cover its operational costs.

Furthermore, the rapid pace of technological advancements and user expectations in the social media space posed a constant challenge. Koo had to continuously innovate and upgrade its platform to keep up with the evolving digital landscape, which required substantial investment and resources.

Official Announcement and User Reactions

In their official statement, Koo’s founders expressed their gratitude to the millions of users who supported the platform. They assured users that their data would be securely handled during the shutdown process and thanked the community for being a part of Koo’s journey.

The news of Koo’s shutdown was met with a mix of disappointment and nostalgia from its user base. Many users took to social media to express their regret over losing a platform that had become an integral part of their digital lives. Some users reminisced about their favorite moments on Koo, while others voiced their hopes for the emergence of similar homegrown alternatives in the future.

Conclusion

Koo’s shutdown marks the end of a notable chapter in India’s social media landscape. While the platform faced insurmountable challenges, its legacy as a pioneer in promoting regional language discourse and digital inclusivity will be remembered. As the digital world continues to evolve, the story of Koo serves as a reminder of the importance of innovation, adaptability, and the unique needs of diverse user communities in the ever-changing social media sphere.

The Canadian Experience, a documentary made and produced by Insight in collaboration with the Centre for Policy Research and Governance (CPRG) with ANI as Media Partner, sheds light on the reality of Indian students’ life in Canada. With a huge housing crisis, crumbling healthcare, nominal employment opportunities, and a fee discrepancy, Indian Students now would much prefer to stay and study in India rather than migrate to Canada which ranks among the most preferred countries for higher education. 

Along with the USA and UK, Canada has been in the top three most preferred places for pursuing higher education for Indian students. Every year almost 3 Lakh students migrate to Canada, what is so special about it? Is it the lifestyle? Job opportunities? Quality Education? Our documentary exposes that it is none of the above and rather, just the good marketing and the glossy picture being painted by these ‘agencies’ that make families spend lakhs on fulfilling their children’s “Canadian Dream.” 

This documentary interviews two Indian students Ms. Vrinda Kathore and Mr. Namra Shukla who pursued higher education in Canada, and these two students tell tales of not only monetary loss but also lack of basic amenities and racial discrimination. 

Our objective through this documentary is to expose that one realises their mistake almost instantly when they land in Canada. The country has minimal livelihood in its northern part due to the harsh weather conditions, and it is there that the majority of the population has accumulated in Southern Canada, giving rise to a major housing crisis. The year 2022 saw the lowest vacancy rate in the country while rents kept on increasing due to high demand. 

The Rental Market report by CMHC suggests that there has been a 9.6% increase in rental prices from April 2022 to April 2023, i.e., A student who would be paying $1827 in April 2022 now had to pay $2004 in April 2023 for the very same property. It is because of this that international students have to compromise on decent living, and have to often live in overcrowded small apartments with no personal space or hygiene maintained. 

Canada has created an image of a country well-equipped with world-class healthcare facilities but in reality, it is crumbling. Vrinda tells us how her friend who got a burn had to sit in the waiting room for 5-6 hours just to even be looked at by the doctor. She herself got a waiting time of 4-5 months for something as simple as an X-ray since it is classified as a ‘non-emergency’ case.

Canada’s 65% of land is covered in snow, it has long harsh cold winters and short cool summers. It gets difficult for an Indian for whom sunlight is such an essential part of daily life. Seasonal Depression is common in international students who have to spend months with temperatures reaching -40 degrees cel. Namra, who had to live in a basement, shares how he did not see sunlight for days if he didn’t step out, and snow-covered roads make it difficult to commute on a daily basis while the buses halt their operations.

Most students dream that getting good jobs comes with the ‘abroad package’, but the reality is strikingly different, there is a severe lack of job opportunities due to which even the brightest of minds have to work in low-paying jobs just to sustain themselves and pay off their debts. In India, almost all colleges have a placement cell in place that offers internships and job opportunities, however, such is not the case in Canadian colleges [Georgian College, Barrie in this case] which boast of high-paying jobs on their websites. 

Another factor that contributes to Indian students regretting their decision is the discrepancy in fee structure where an international student is paying significantly higher than a domestic student. Where an international student is paying $8000 for a semester, a domestic student is paying $1500 for the same. It is worth noting that while Indian colleges waived or decreased the fee during online classes in the pandemic, no such luxury was given to these students in Canada. It has been calculated that Indian students contribute 8 Billion dollars to the Canadian Economy. 

What will shock you the most is the revelation that Cape Breton University in Nova Scotia admitted students beyond its capacity and is now making Indian students study in nearby Cineplex due to a lack of infrastructure. What should be called out is being marketed as an ‘innovation’ by the college in question. As Vrinda fairly points out- they are running a ‘facade’ in the name of quality education.

Why should a student invest a hefty amount and not even get a proper return? Why should a person choose a place so miserable when they can get far better education and facilities in their own country?

The question remains- Is the Canadian Experience worth it?

Watch the full documentary, made in collaboration with the Centre of Policy Research and Governance (CPRG) and released via Asian News International (ANI) to experience what has yet been unseen and unheard. This documentary went on to feature on a prime time show on NDTV within 24 Hours of release, with subsequent coverage on CNN-News18. 

Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who has also been a strong advocate of Digital Privacy since 2010 recently said while interacting with students of Delhi University that ‘Citizens have the right to say that I gave you consent to use my data and no I want that data and my digital footprint to be removed from this platform.’

Right to be Forgotten safeguards individuals’ privacy and empowers them to regain control over their personal data. In an era where online information can persist indefinitely, this right enables people to request the removal of outdated or irrelevant data that might no longer be accurate or necessary. This clause also vouches for family members who can opt for the removal of the social media profiles of the deceased people. 

Secondly, the Right to be Forgotten fosters a balance between privacy and freedom of expression. While it allows individuals to request the removal of certain information, it also requires careful consideration of public interest and the right to access information. This concept encourages responsible data handling practices among organizations and platforms, ultimately promoting a more transparent and respectful digital environment where individuals can exercise their rights without stifling free speech.

The DPDP Bill was passed in Parliament in early August, read more about it here.