India’s microblogging platform, Koo, has announced plans to shut down services, leaving millions of users stranded.
The platform, which prided itself as an alternative to X (formerly Twitter), was launched in 2020.
Chronicle NG reports that in 2021, the Federal Government opened a Koo account after suspending X (formerly Twitter) operations in Nigeria.
Nigeria suspended the microblogging and social networking service X (formerly Twitter) after the platform removed a post by the country’s then-President, Muhammadu Buhari.
The platform’s founders said a shortage of funding and high technology costs had led to the decision, BBC reports.
Koo offered messaging in more than 10 Indian languages.
It gained prominence in 2021 after several ministers endorsed it during a dispute between the Indian government and X (formerly Twitter).
By the end of 2021, the app had reached 20 million downloads across the country.
However, the platform has struggled to get funding in the last few years.
Due to its funding challenges, Koo fired 30% of its 260-member workforce in April 2023.
Announcing its latest decision to shut down service on Wednesday, founders Aprameya Radhakrishna and Mayank Bidawatka said talks with several companies on funding didn’t materialize.
They blamed the high cost of technology services for “taking this tough decision.”
“We explored partnerships with multiple larger internet companies, conglomerates, and media houses, but these talks didn’t yield the outcome we wanted.
“Most of them didn’t want to deal with user-generated content and the wild nature of a social media company. A couple of them changed priority almost close to signing,” they wrote on LinkedIn.
