Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Hate speech pushes platform users toward secure avenues, survey finds
A big company called FRND asked many people how they like to chat online.
Most people said the most important thing is that they feel safe and that mean comments are stopped.
People liked talking with their voice much more than typing messages.
Three out of four people said they can explain things better in the language they speak with their family.
Some people feel really worried that people they know might judge them online.
Because of mean comments, hate speech, and negativity, many people look for apps that feel safer and more private.
About half of the people use social media to have fun, and about half use it to stay in touch with friends.
This is why many apps are adding voice chats and better safety tools.
Talking in your home language and hearing voices can make people feel more comfortable online.
A survey by FRND found safety and moderation are the most important features users look for in an online platform, cited by 50% of respondents.
66% of respondents said hearing another person's voice makes them feel most connected, compared with 29% for video calls and 28% for text.
78% of respondents said they express themselves better in their mother tongue, rising to 84% among Telugu- and Malayalam-speaking users.
Malayalam-speaking users showed the strongest preference for privacy and safety, leading on safety/moderation preference (62%), privacy concern (60%), and entertainment use (62%).
49% of respondents use social media primarily for entertainment while 46% cite staying connected; FRND CEO Bhanu Pratap Singh Tanwar said fear of judgement from acquaintances shapes online behaviour.
- Who
- Digital platform users in India surveyed by FRND, including Hindi-, Telugu-, and Malayalam-speaking users, with comments from FRND co-founder and CEO Bhanu Pratap Singh Tanwar.
- What
- A survey found safety and moderation are the top priorities for online platforms, voice communication makes 66% of users feel most connected, and 78% express themselves better in their mother tongue.
- When
- Not specified in the article
- Where
- India, as indicated by the regional Indic language groups surveyed
- Why
- Trolling, hate speech, and negativity are pushing users toward secure online avenues, and fear of judgement from acquaintances remains a major factor shaping online behaviour.
- Survey sponsor
- FRND
- Most important platform feature
- Safety and moderation (50% of respondents)
- Voice connection preference
- 66% of respondents
- Video call preference
- 29%
- Text conversation preference
- 28%
- Better expression in mother tongue
- 78% overall; 84% among Telugu- and Malayalam-speaking users
- Primary social media use
- 49% entertainment; 46% staying connected
- Malayalam speakers' privacy and safety
- 62% prefer safety/moderation features; 60% concerned about lack of privacy