iWorld
Twitter introduces Times Twitter Impact List: Shah Rukh Khan is most influential Bollywood actor
MUMBAI: For the first time, Twitter has come up with new matrix to judge the impact created on the social media platform based on engagement scores – and actor Shah Rukh Khan has emerged a clear winner.
Twitter in partnership with Times of India has compiled lists of rank well-known politicians, Bollywood actors, TV actors, musicians, sport stars, and media brands based on their new measuring unit.
“Over time, it becomes important to understand what impact these personalities have on their audience and what the true criterion on which their impact depends is. We thought it was important to put out the variety and the breadth of the creators and content producers on twitter who have the maximum impact on their lives,” said Twitter head of TV partnerships – India Viral Jani, adding that the list has been compiled based on absolutely organic reach and does not take into account any paid engagement.
Since its inception, Twitter has been a powerful platform and tool to gauge popular opinion, breaking news and bridging the gap between celebrities and popular personalities and their fans or start a social campaign. The number of followers any personality has always becomes the benchmark for their importance on the platform and their level of influence.
“We created a new index by measuring the engagement coming from an handle based on the number of replies, re-tweets and favourites the handle’s content gets and aggregating that into an impact score. It is the true extent of how much impact the person have on the platform, how viral their content gets, and their impact beyond twitter as several media organizations follow Twitter closely and report from information available on the platform, what is noticed in twitter travels to television, print and other digital platforms as well,” Jani added.
Going by the new Times Twitter Impact List that has been compiled for the year of 2015, Amitabh Bachchan is the Bollywood actor with the most number of followers but it is Shah Rukh Khan who rules the platform when it comes to engagement and impact, Actor Aamir Khan does not even feature in the top ten lists. Similarly the Quantico starrer Priyanka Chopra emerged as the Bollywood female actress with the most impact on her audience.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean that if one has a higher number of followers they also command the most amount of impact on their audience. The focus is on how they engage with their audience, how they keep them interactive to their profiles, etc,” Jani pointed out.
Among Television personalities, actor-comedian Kapil Sharma and actor-dancer Gauhar Khan steal the show.
When it comes to most influential politicians on Twitter, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi tops the list, followed by Subramaniam Swamy and Arvind Kejriwal. The most impactful business leaders are Mahindra Group’s chairman and MD, Anand Mahindra followed by Colors TV CEO Raj Nayak.
In sports, Sachin Tendulkar is the undisputed king of engagements among men, while Sania Mirza tops the list among women.
Based on the growing importance given to measurability of one’s social media influence, Twitter’s new ‘Impact Index’ may become the new currency to quantify virality, which makes the measurement and the list far more powerful for brands to map their social media presence. Brand managers and advertisers are sure to keep an eye on the lists as well.
Asked if Twitter is considering partnering with brands to share their impact scores with them, Jani said, “The key differentiator for this list is that it is meant for our users and the consumer. We may consider it if we want to get into the brand space later, but for now the lists are strictly consumer facing.”
Twitter is considering to add few more categories of lists the the current few depending on the reception of this new initiative.
Lists:
Bollywood Male Actors
Bollywood Female Actors
Directors
Music Artists
Indian Politicians
Cricketers and Other Sports personalities
Business Leaders
TV Male and Female personalities
TV channels
iWorld
Netflix launches Playground app to bring games and interactive play for kids
Interactive games, fresh series and returning favourites aim to blend play and learning
MUMBAI: Netflix is doubling down on kids entertainment with a major expansion of its family-friendly slate, anchored by the launch of Netflix Playground, a new interactive app designed to blend play with storytelling.
Aimed at children aged eight and under, the app allows young viewers to engage with familiar characters from shows like Peppa Pig and Sesame Street through games and activities, all within a safe, ad-free environment. The app is already live in select markets and is set for a wider global rollout later this month.
The move signals Netflix’s push to turn passive viewing into a more immersive experience. Alongside the app, the platform has unveiled a mix of new titles and returning favourites, including fresh episodes of Trash Truck and The Creature Cases, as well as a new preschool series, Young MacDonald. Popular titles such as CoComelon Lane and Ms. Rachel are also set to expand with new seasons and episodes.
Speaking about the strategy, Netflix vice president of animation series and kids and family tv John Derderian said, “We’re building a world where kids can not only watch their favourite stories, they can step inside them and interact with their favourite characters. We’re creating a seamless destination for discovery, learning, and play.”
The expanded offering also leans heavily on convenience for parents, with offline access, curated content, and robust parental controls designed to ensure a safe and tailored viewing experience. Features such as profile locks, content filters, and activity tracking aim to give families greater control while allowing children to explore independently.
The timing is strategic. Kids and preschool content has emerged as one of Netflix’s most-watched categories in recent years, making it a key battleground in the streaming wars. By combining games, education, and entertainment, the platform is looking to deepen engagement and build long-term loyalty among younger audiences.
With interactive play now joining its content arsenal, Netflix is not just streaming stories but inviting kids to step inside them, turning screen time into something a little more hands-on.
