The app bitchat, launched by Jack Dorsey, attracted over 48,000 users in Nepal amidst anti-government protests.
Spike in Downloads in Nepal
In the past week, bitchat has been downloaded over 48,000 times in Nepal, following anti-government protests. Last week, a similar rise was noted in Indonesia, where protests over corruption also took place.
Corruption and Protests
Protests in Nepal were sparked by corruption allegations against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who subsequently resigned. In response to the demonstrations, the government temporarily blocked access to social media, which led to increased protest activity.
Trends in Messaging App Usage
The incidents in Nepal and Indonesia may indicate a trend among citizens turning to decentralized messaging apps for privacy. However, applications like bitchat still have a long way to go before competing with major services like WhatsApp and Facebook.
As an alternative to traditional platforms, decentralized messaging apps continue to attract users seeking more secure and private communication.
