India is also one of the world’s largest gaming markets with over 568 million gamers. The availability of cheap internet and affordable mobile devices have been fuelling the growth of social media intake and gaming in the country. This article will explore how social media and gaming are shaping digital habits in India.
Social Media As a Marketplace
Social media platforms were first created as a social place where people could connect and share ideas. Indians on social media have friends from all parts of the world and Facebook is the largest social media platform at roughly 64 percent as of October 2024. Other popular social media platforms are Instagram, TikTok and X.
Social media platforms like Facebook have integrated e-commerce features, allowing users to sell and shop easily. These features blend social and commercial activities. We can already see some platforms like TikTok allowing users to shop and sell directly using TikTok shops in select countries, and we expect to see them reach this country soon.
Gaming As a Mainstream Hobby
India’s gaming industry was worth 3.1 billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2023. It is also one of the biggest gaming markets in Asia. Even though most Indians were locked out of gaming in the past, we can now see a trend where mobile gaming is taking over.
eSports are now a staple of the Indian community interested in competitive gaming. We can also see a breed of real-money gamers where Monopoly Live is a must-try at Casino Days for those looking for engaging games with good returns.
Localization is Taking Over
Knowing a new language is no longer seen as a flex in modern India. In fact, 84% of users would choose to watch a video in their native language over English. Most of the early Indian internet users were urbanized and preferred videos in English. However, internet penetration is rising and people going back to their roots. We can now see more content creators producing content in Hindi and other local dialects and attracting massive followings.
Gamified Learning
Education is taking a new direction, and course creators are infusing learning with engaging game elements. Finding Indian educational platforms on social platforms like TikTok and YouTube has also become the new norm.
This new approach is changing learning from a monotonous endeavour to a fun activity. Mathematics is one of the subjects that benefits most from gamification where students get engaging challenges and puzzles that teach them problem-solving.
Authenticity is Taking Center Stage
The type of content we had on social media a decade ago is different from what we have today. In the past, content creators focused on creating a fake persona on their social feeds. The Indian market is now ripe for authenticity where content creators present their real lives on visual platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
The age of faking life is long gone as social media users are drawn to authenticity. Some content creators caption English videos in local Indian dialects to attract large viewerships.
The Female Awakening
India, like most growing countries, didn’t value women's empowerment in the past. This could be reflected in game characters where most of them were men. Content on women's empowerment was also scarce in traditional media.
Social media has now democratized information, allowing women to access data at the click of a button. This access to information has unlocked confidence levels among women who are now prioritizing their professional development and travelling on their own.
Social media and gaming spaces are ever-evolving as legislation and new technologies are being introduced. The Indian population is woke, making it easy to adapt to these changes. New technologies like artificial intelligence, and augmented and virtual reality are expected to have a big impact on social media and gaming soon.
