FRND survey finds privacy fears are pushing users towards voice-first social platforms

Bengaluru: It seems actions are speaking louder than posts. As concerns around privacy and online judgement grow, more Indian users are choosing to speak rather than type, with voice conversations and regional languages emerging as the preferred way to connect online, according to a new survey by FRND.

The company’s Safe Space Survey, conducted among 12,666 users through in-app multiple-choice questionnaires, found that privacy concerns and fear of being judged by acquaintances are changing how people interact on digital platforms. Nearly half of respondents, or 48 per cent, said a lack of privacy prevents them from expressing themselves freely online, while 45 per cent said they hesitate because they fear being judged by people they already know.

The findings also highlighted growing dissatisfaction with mainstream social media experiences. Around 29 per cent of respondents cited trolling, hate speech and online negativity as reasons for holding back, while 20 per cent said the pressure to maintain a carefully curated online image limited authentic self-expression.

Safety emerged as the biggest priority for users when choosing an online platform. Half of those surveyed said strong moderation and safety features were the most important factor in making them feel comfortable online. This ranked ahead of anonymous avatar identities, which appealed to 45 per cent of respondents, while 37 per cent preferred platforms centred around audio interactions.

Voice communication appears to be striking the strongest chord. About 66 per cent of respondents said hearing another person’s voice made them feel the most connected, significantly ahead of video calls at 29 per cent and text messaging at 28 per cent. Hindi-speaking users recorded the highest preference for voice interactions at 70 per cent, while Malayalam speakers, at 58 per cent, still showed a clear inclination towards audio conversations.

The survey also underlined the growing importance of regional languages in digital engagement. Around 78 per cent of respondents said they express themselves better in their mother tongue. That figure climbed to 84 per cent among Telugu and Malayalam speakers, suggesting that local language experiences continue to play a crucial role in building meaningful online communities.

Malayalam-speaking respondents consistently stood out across several measures. They recorded the highest concern over privacy at 60 per cent, showed the strongest preference for safety and moderation features at 62 per cent, and were also the most likely to use social media primarily for entertainment, at 62 per cent.

Overall, entertainment remained the leading reason for using social media, cited by 49 per cent of respondents, while 46 per cent said they primarily use digital platforms to stay connected with others. The close split indicates that users increasingly expect platforms to balance engagement with genuine social interaction.

Commenting on the findings, FRND co-founder and chief executive officer Bhanu Pratap Singh Tanwar said the survey reflects a widening gap between traditional social media platforms and the evolving preferences of users across India.

“The survey highlights a stark difference between what traditional social media platforms offer and what Bharat users are actually looking for in their digital experiences. People are more comfortable being themselves online when they don’t have to put up a picture, when they can speak instead of type, and when they can converse in their own Indic language. One of the most telling insights was that 45 per cent of users said fear of judgment from people they already know, not strangers, holds them back from expressing themselves. Because so much of our online behaviour is shaped by that social conservatism, people need a digital third space that’s empathetic and warm, not just functional, and that’s what we’ve built FRND to be,” FRND co-founder and chief executive officer Bhanu Pratap Singh Tanwar said.

The platform currently has more than 3 million monthly active users across India. According to the company, users spend over 30 minutes on the app every day, generating nearly 1.39 million conversations and 1.75 million minutes of interaction daily, signalling that privacy, voice and vernacular experiences are increasingly shaping the future of digital social engagement.