What happened?
Nepal experienced a surge in downloads of Jack Dorsey’s peer-to-peer messaging app, Bitchat, amidst youth-led protests against government corruption and a social media ban. The app was downloaded 48,781 times on September 8th as political unrest escalated and resulted in the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Bitchat operates without internet infrastructure, using Bluetooth Low Energy mesh networks, providing a viable communication method during network shutdowns.
Who does this affect?
The adoption of Bitchat primarily affects the younger generation in Nepal who have been using digital platforms for communication and commerce. It also impacts countries worldwide as the total global downloads reach over 125,000 users, with Nepal accounting for 39% of this adoption. The pattern of use suggests that Bitchat could be adopted as a primary communication method in regions experiencing civil unrest or internet censorship.
Why does this matter?
This trend indicates a growing demand for censorship-resistant communication tools during periods of political instability worldwide. As Bitchat operates independently from internet infrastructure, it provides an effective means of communication when traditional channels become unavailable due to government restrictions or network shutdowns. This technology’s rise could influence market trends in peer-to-peer communication applications and potentially impact how information is distributed during crises.