New Delhi: A virtual social platform, Koto, which is exclusively for women and is set to launch in June, aims to create a space online that is free of trolling and abuse. web3 The platform promises to “bridging the gender divide” on social media, where “men outnumber women”.
KOTO, which gets its name from the initial two letters of the words ‘Coming Together’, will be a platform where women, including transgenders, can express themselves freely as well as gain traction for their entrepreneurial ventures.
It is founded by Aparna Achrekar, former programming head of video streaming platform Zee5, and Tarun Katiyal, former CEO of Zee5. They are launching the platform through their company, Eve World, and emphasize that “safety” is “Kotto’s strongest principle”.
“For internet to be empowered and inclusive, it is imperative to have a safe space where we can freely express ourselves. Women do not get a chance to have intimate conversations, which leads to self-censorship,” Achrekar told ThePrint.
Moving out of the safe space online is an important step in a country where women, across the country Indian cities have regularly held protests demanding security in public places. campaigns likewhy loiter‘ And ‘take back the NightHundreds of women have been seen taking to the streets demanding security and accountability.
Online, sexism and misogyny, and an army of trolls who think nothing of threatening women, remain largely unchecked. And social media has only added to the blatant sexism that comes to the fore every day in the offline world.
Women are also looking for a safe space online, whether it is for professional guidance and networking, or for discussing personal issues.
Deepti (who does not wish to share her last name), 33, is part of leap.club, a networking platform for women in Delhi, and says such spaces give them access to women in leadership positions. “There were talks about breaking the glass ceiling, how to strike a good work-life balance, etc.,” said Deepti.
Coto’s foundation web3, or the third generation Internet, which would address concerns such as algorithmic manipulation, identity theft and data breaches. Blockchain technology will be used to ensure data privacy and fill all the gaps in Web2.
“The platform will enable members to independently create, curate, consume and own content. The decentralized nature of blockchain will help in overcoming privacy issues,” says Katial.
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Coto. Need of
The Internet has revolutionized the way we communicate, and social media platforms are where people spread information, exchange ideas, etc.
However, according to a survey conducted by Statista, a database company titled ‘Gender distribution of social media audiences worldwide by January 2022, by platform’’ Not only in India but across the world, men outnumber women on almost all major social platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
In January this year, the chairman of the National Commission for Women, Rekha Sharma Told There has been a five-fold increase in online harassment cases since the pandemic broke out.
Achrekar felt that one of the main things missing from “legacy social media platforms” is intimate interactions.
“Women feel restricted because there is always concern about abuse and harassment. Therefore, no one feels free to talk about issues like menopause, motherhood and sexual problems. We want to open up to them and women. I want to form my own group and talk on such issues,” she said.
While women will be allowed to post anonymously on Koto, security measures have been put in place during the registration process.
“One just needs to go through a basic KYC process which will involve facial recognition. We would like to know whether you are a woman or not. Members of transgender communities will also have an equal opportunity to connect. If a person does not want to be traced at all, they can choose to hide their identity while engaging with other members of the community after registration,” Katial said. “We’ll have all kinds of privacy controls in place.”
Coto intends to help members showcase their business products through an online marketplace on the platform for women entrepreneurs. “We will also benefit from these marketplaces as we will get commission from these transactions,” he said. So, it is a win-win for all,” Katial said.
(Edited by Jinnia Ray Chowdhury)
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