City
Epaper

Vernacular social media apps spreading vulgar content in India

By IANS | Updated: June 26, 2019 17:45 IST

In the era where apps control our lives, the rapid spread of explicit vulger content via social networking platforms, especially in regional languages, has become a matter of concern in India.

Open in App

While some apps like China-based TikTok came under fire for not filtering inappropriate content on its platform, several not-so-famous apps are also earning large revenue via unfiltered and vulgar content.

Most of these apps are free to download while some of them let users make an in-app purchase as well to let them "unlock special features".

One such app, available on Google Play Store is called, "Hot Bigo" that has been downloaded over 100,000 times.

The live-streaming app shows inappropriate pictures of Asian girls on its thumbnail and says it is "a collection of Bigo streaming videos, live hot".

Another such app called "Vigo Video" has also managed to gather millions of downloads on the Google Play Store and lets users "follow and interact with other video makers, send private messages, shoot clips with background music and share videos on social media".

Even as these apps aren't downloaded by most smartphone users in the country, the videos doing the rounds on them are circulated on popular social media apps like WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, which are accessible by all.

Ever since Instagram tightened its rules around showing sexually explicit content, creators have stopped keeping such "special pages that cater to a specific set of adults" open for anybody to follow.

Minors who get a hang of such short-video making apps not only get hooked to them instantly, but also come under the risk radar of being exposed to or involved in dangerous and sexually explicit content that could make them victims of cyber crimes.

According to reports, in the absence of adequate human moderators, such material are slipping through the automated systems of these popular platforms.

Earlier in April, the Madras High Court had asked the Central government to ban the Chinese video mobile application "TikTok", saying it spoils the future of youth and minds of children.

The court said inappropriate content was being provided by the app and the government had a social responsibility to stop it.

( With inputs from IANS )

Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalJapan logs third-hottest September on record

NationalChandrababu Naidu thanks PM Modi for four new KVs to Andhra Pradesh

NationalParliament announces new committee compositions; key appointments made across 24 panels

AurangabadRasta Roko on Paithan road, Solapur–Dhule highway

MaharashtraMaharashtra: 10% MSRTC Bus Fare Hike Cancelled Amid Flood Crisis

National Realted Stories

NationalBengal: CPI(M) runs record number of book stalls during Durga Puja

NationalWhy is RSS being praised: Supriya Shrinate questions PM's remarks during centenary celebrations

NationalDelhi HC issues interim order to curb misuse of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s persona

NationalPM Modi to visit Chhattisgarh for three-day DGP conference next month; HM Amit Shah to join

NationalFormer Bengal minister Banamali Roy dies at 85