Koo, an Indian Twitter alternative, has been the talk of the town since it promotes Aatmanirbhar Bharat by providing a Twitter-like experience in Indian languages. It’s available as an iOS and Android app, as well as a website. From 2020, Koo will be the winner of the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat app contest. After that, the app fell out of favor, but it resurfaced after Twitter refused to remove some content that the government had ordered it to release. While the takedown is still ongoing, government agencies such as MeitY and senior politicians such as Union Minister Piyush Goyal have been tweeting about koo app and their accounts on the platform.
What exactly is Koo?
Koo is a micro blogging site similar to Twitter that allows users to express themselves. The company’s co-founder and CEO created it. Koo was first released in March of last year, and it was the winner of the Digital India AatmaNirbhar Bharat Innovate Challenge, which seeks out the best Indian apps with the potential to become world-class apps. According to the Koo website’s ‘about’ section, the app aimed to empower Indian koo app users to express themselves in their native tongue.
“Only 10% of India’s population speaks English. In India, about a billion people do not speak English. Instead, they converse in one of India’s many languages. They’re getting smart phones today, and they’d love to include internet in their words.” “Koo is an attempt to make the voice of these Indians heard,” it continues. They may now participate in the internet in their native language by listening to the perspectives of some of India’s brightest minds and offering their ideas.”
What is the significance of Koo’s appearance in the media?
After Union Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted about joining the local micro blogging network, Koo was thrust into the spotlight. This is in the midst of an ongoing feud between the Indian government and Twitter. According to reports, the authorities ordered Twitter to deactivate over 1,000 accounts for spreading misinformation and provocative content about the protests. Twitter disagreed, claiming that it did not take action against charges associated with news organizations, journalists, activists, or politicians.
Other notable politicians use Koo, like Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad and Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. The platform includes the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Central Board of Indirect Taxes (CBIC), the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), India Post, MyGovIndia, Digital India, and the National Informatics Centre (NIC), among others.
How did the Koo app become so popular?
While the app was first released in early 2020, its participation in and subsequent victory in the government’s Atmanirbhar App Innovation Challenge catapulted it into the spotlight. The app, along with other India-made apps such as Zoho and Chingari — the local version of TikTok — won the challenge, announced by the Centre shortly after it banned a slew of Chinese-linked apps citing state security concern. Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the app in his Mann Ki Baat address after the Atmanirbhar App Innovation Challenge.
How do I get Koo to download?
Koo is a free app that can be downloaded on Android and iOS devices. Alternatively, consumers can search for “Koo” on Google Play. On Google Play, the app is called “Koo: Connect with Indians in Indian Languages.” The App Store is just called “Koo,” and the developer is Bombinate Technologies Private Limited.
To be redirected to a download link, go to the website and click on the Google Play or App Store download options.
What does it mean that key political figures have joined Koo App?
The fact that several ministers and politicians support the Indian microblogging site, especially when the world’s largest platform in this about koo app segment has not responded favorably to the Indian government’s demands, demonstrates the government’s readiness to push an alternative to the communal network platform. The Union IT Ministry had sent a severe letter to Twitter, stating that it was an intermediary and “they are obliged to obey the government’s directives.” If you refuse, you will face legal consequences.” Non-compliance with the government’s demands, the company was told, might result in action under Section 69A (3) of the IT Act, which could land the company’s senior executives in prison for up to seven years, as well as a financial penalty.
Conclusion
Koo has a lot of characteristics in common with Twitter. Users can follow people and browse through their feeds. Messages can be written in text or shared in audio or video forms. It currently supports Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Tamil, and English, with more languages on the way. It also enables people to express themselves in their tongues.
Messages are termed “Koo” and can be up to 400 characters long. There are language communities that display all content in a specific language.