Month: March 2022

In the last one year, the country’s content consumption has significantly risen, leading to the growing popularity of content creators. Owing to the advent of readily accessible internet and smartphones, the numbers of online creators who are dabbling with different genres have increased. Interestingly, this trend is not just popular in tier-i cities but is also slowly taking over tier-ii and tier-iii cities.
It is correct to say that India is slowly inching towards a creator led economy. Though at a nascent stage, it is projected to be valued at $13.8 billion for the year 2021 and is easily one of the next big phenomena. Marketers around the world have realised that online influencers these days have a subtly higher reach than traditional marketing channels, making organisations and businesses around the world wanting to capitalise on the same.
Some of these creators already had a pre-defined audience and some recently grew their following post introduction of reels and unique content. Their audience or followers in the social media lingo is defined and can be easily used to target a specific set of target audience, aiding the consumer-targeted industry and directly reaching to the core audience.
The creator economy has led people to generate economical independence via their enthusiasm and lifestyle. With virtually boundless Indian internet consumption, the expectation of the creator economy is unparalleled.  Broadband companies like Excitel also play a huge role in aiding this culture. With them consistently focusing on increasing their reach to tier-ii and tier-iii cities to provide limitless data, increased internet speed at an affordable price, a new wave of talented content creators are up and coming.
India’s creator economy can potentially dominate global markets in the next couple of years and the scale of our young population that has increased the urge to be self-employed will also play a huge role in strengthening India’s creator economy.

New Delhi/Mumbai: Rahul Kumar, a Noida-based software engineer working at a multinational, recently moved to his hometown in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur, after his employer extended the work-from-home (WFH) option till the end of the year. Kumar got an optic fibre connection from a local service provider to ensure fast and uninterrupted access to the internet. “I knew that mobile broadband won’t be able to handle my daily work requirements. So, I got a fixed broadband connection,” he said. Like Kumar, professionals who moved to their home towns opted for wired internet because of the data-intensive nature of their work, driving up demand for fixed broadband lines in smaller cities, which have typically been more dependent on mobile broadband.
Remote working and learning requirements exposed users in smaller cities to the benefits of a wired broadband connection. In many cases, companies in the information technology and financial services sectors incentivized staff to get such connections.
“Transition from 4G mobile broadband to wired line has increased drastically in large and small cities after covid-19. The fact that many people have moved to tier 2-3 cities has contributed to this. Also, with covid-19, people in these cities who have to work from home or attend online classes started realising the importance of wired lines,” said Vivek Raina, chief executive and co-founder, Excitel Broadband India.
Before covid-19, service providers had to make a case for wired broadband, by focusing on binge watching content, work-from-home and tasks that need a lot of data, Raina said. “We saw 30-35% increase in demand for wired broadband services as compared to pre-covid times,” he said.
Excitel, which offers services in five circles, saw a sharp growth in wired broadband business in cities such as Kanpur and Guntur.
Bharti Airtel, too, witnessed high traction and, to capitalize on that demand, it accelerated broadband installation. “We believe there is massive opportunity in smaller towns across India in the home broadband market. We are, therefore, doubling down on our partnership with local cable operators in such towns. We are live in 14 such cities through this partnership model,” Gopal Vittal, managing director and chief executive, Bharti Airtel, said during the company’s Q1 FY21 earnings call on 30 July.
According to latest data from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) fixed wireless (Wifi) and wired broadband subscribers comprise barely 3% of the total broadband subscription market in India, largely due to the lack of fibre rollouts in India. According to telecom analysts, although region specific broadband data is not available, Reliance Jio had reported 82000 additional wireline connections between March-April. Jio offers wireline connections by default with the fibre to the home connection.
“ Our sense is that in April-May people did not have the ability to get new connections due to the lockdown but within this year we do expect wireline broadband connections to grow given extended WFH requirements however it will require the large operators to invest aggressively in these markets,” said Sachin Gupta, Senior director, CRISIL Ratings.

Social media platforms have taken the world by storm. Right from Orkut way back in the day to new-age platforms like Instagram and Twitter, these social media portals have changed the way we interact with one another. With the internet connectivity in India strengthening in recent years, the penetration of social media in the country has seen a steep rise. Statistics show that digitization in the country coupled with affordable data prices has equipped around 462 million people to actively use the internet. Of these, around 250 million users are active on social media.

YouTube, Facebook, and WhatsApp appear to be the social media of choice in the country. Given the prevalence of these platforms, it leads us to one important question – how does social media affect the mental health of its users? Let’s break it down.

The positive impact of social media on mental health

Social media usage can benefit users in many ways. When used appropriately, the mental health of social media users can be impacted positively. Let’s see how.

1. Social media usage can combat loneliness:
Human beings are social animals, as the popular line of thought goes. We each need varying levels of human interaction to thrive. And by offering you a chance to connect with other people and pages on social media, these platforms help combat isolation and loneliness, encourage healthy interaction, and foster connections. This can be particularly valuable for people who are homebound and do not interact a lot with others daily.

2. It raises awareness about relevant issues:
Social media usage can also increase people’s awareness about important issues that are relevant in the day. It helps make a positive difference in the world this way, and that, in turn, can be very gratifying. While at it, social media platforms also help raise awareness about mental health issues, which is a big win.

3. Social media can foster healthier relationships:
Social media platforms have revolutionized the way we create new relationships and maintain them. When used right, it can help you form and foster meaningful relationships with people from all over the world. It helps you connect with like-minded folks, which in turn is likely to boost your mental health.

The adverse impact of social media on mental health

Even given the benefits discussed above, there’s no denying that social media usage does come with a flip side. Inappropriate or unmoderated usage can affect mental health adversely.

1. It can prove to be addictive:
Getting increasingly addicted to social media decreases the user’s connection with their reality. Which, in turn, can lead to a neglect of their personal life, escapism, and even mood imbalances. None of these spells’ good news for mental health. So, addictive and excessive social media usage is certainly something to watch out for.

2. Increased social media usage may be linked with depression:
One of the worst downsides to unmoderated social media usage is that it could lead to depression. A study published in the Journal of Depression and Anxiety revealed that people who used social media the most were around 2.7 times more likely to be depressed than people who used the least.

3. It could lead to a feeling of insufficiency
People put the best parts of their lives on social media. Constantly looking into the highlight reels of the best parts of other people’s lives can lead to a feeling of insufficiency with their own lives, for many users. Which, in turn, could impact mental health negatively and lead to a sense of inadequacy.

How can you protect your mental health in this era of widespread social media usage?

Since social media usage can be a double-edged sword, it’s always a good idea to take measures to protect your mental health. Here are some ideas that can help.

1. Monitor your screen time:
Set limits on your screen time, so you can ensure that it doesn’t affect your mental health too much.

2. Take control of your social media feed:
You can choose what tags, pages, and accounts to follow, so ensure that you make the most of this level of control that you’ve got.

3. Block keywords that act as triggers:
Many social media platforms also allow you to block keywords that could act as a trigger for you. You can leverage this feature to make your feed more positive.

4. Take a break when you need it:
Lastly, if you feel it’s getting a bit overwhelming, remember that you can (and should) always take a break.

Conclusion
With these things in mind, you can exercise more control over the impact of social media on mental health. Do remember that there are two sides to the story, and it’s always possible to take the well alone and make the most of the positive effects of social media platforms. All things in moderation are the mantra to stick by.

Internet penetration in India has increased immensely in recent years. In 2020 alone, nearly 700 million users across the country had access to the internet.  Simultaneously, internet usage among India’s children has also risen over the years. Recent reports show that children aged between 5 and 11 make up around 15% of the active internet users in the country. Understandably, most children access the internet through the devices of their family members.

The web can open a world of opportunities for children. It can help them learn more about the world around them in a way that little else can. However, on the flip side, too much exposure to social media and internet usage for children could also adversely impact them. It’s no wonder then that parents constantly worry about managing their children’s internet usage.

If you’re a parent struggling to figure out how to establish parental controls and keep an eye on internet access for the children in your family, here are some practical tips that could help.

Set up a specific access time

Limiting internet access for children to specific times each day can go a long way in helping you manage their internet usage. Set up specific windows of time during which your children can access the web. This way, you can ensure that you have some degree of control of the amount of time your kids spend on the internet. You could turn off the net during the times when your child is supposed to be doing other things, like catching up on their homework or sleeping.

Establish parental controls

If you’re looking to up your game and manage your children’s internet usage in a better manner, parental controls may just be your best friends. Different devices come with varying degrees of parental controls. Streaming services also have some parental controls in place. Online games, apps and social media sites also allow for parental monitoring. Make the most of these tools, so you can ensure that internet access for your children doesn’t lead into any dangerous waters.

Encourage tech-free days

Another easy way to limit internet usage by your kids is to encourage tech-free days for everybody at home. On tech-free days, everyone in the family turns in their devices and spends time doing things that do not involve the internet. This not only allows you to keep internet access for children within acceptable levels, but it also creates time for some family bonding. Additionally, it encourages your children to look for entertainment outside of the web. This can help cultivate social skills too.

Lead by example

Up to a certain age, children tend to model the behavior of their parents. So, if you’re trying to manage internet access for children around the house, but don’t set a very good example with your device, it could lead to conflicting inputs for the kids in your family. A good way to ensure this doesn’t happen is to follow the rules you set for your child, to the extent possible, at the very least. Indulge in activities that do not involve the internet, like reading a book or playing some board games, and the chances are high that your children may follow your lead.

Discuss your child’s internet usage with them

Transparency is one of the key elements to helping your child understand why it’s important to control their internet usage. Merely establishing parental controls and instructing children to follow the rules may eventually lead to an outbreak. Instead, open-up the lines of communication and talk to your children about their internet usage. Get them to open-up about what they typically spend time doing online, and explain your concerns to them.

Make use of apps to manage your child’s internet usage

Aside from the inbuilt parental controls in many devices and platforms, there are also several apps that parents can make use of to manage the internet access for children at home. These tech-based solutions help you do various tasks, like keep an eye on your children’s screen time, limit or monitor the access to apps that are not child-friendly, and track their social media usage. All these apps can come in handy if you’re trying to manage your kids’ internet use.

Conclusion

These strategies are easy enough to implement. The important thing to keep in mind is that you need to explain your actions to your children, so they understand where you’re coming from. Merely instructing them to do these things may give them the impression that you’re not on their side. Instead, starting a conversation about the internet and its many facets could encourage your children to grow more conscious of what they do on the web. And this, rather than outright tough parenting, is more likely to get your kids to listen to you.

The year 2020 marked the beginning of Internet home-businesses giving people an opportunity to be their own boss. Owing to the nationwide lockdown and unprecedented times, many Indians underwent job losses and salary cuts and have still not yet recovered from the complex market and volatile economy. During these times, the idea of internet entrepreneurs became a hero for people to earn extra income by monetising their hobbies and interests.

The World Wide Web gave a platform to people to create internet shops that floated home shot content and simpler stories. The availability of steady internet, an internet bearing device and a simple idea powered these ventures.

Now what initially started as a side hustle has gradually become a means of main source of income owing to the large-scale audience as well as the ease the internet offers to reach out to a targeted set.

So, if you also feel like you have the aesthetic eye and would love to become your own boss, here are 5 ideas that will bring you closer to your dream.

Donning a Baker’s Hat:
Did you make the perfect banana bread last year, and then that Banana bread was later followed by a batch of scrumptious brownie followed by a tray of Tiramisu?

Since people were locked at home and the opportunities to entertain themselves were at a bare minimum, people indulged in baking and tried out different recipes which led to the growing popularity of home-bakers. The concept of home-bakers became so popular that people started opting for these start-ups over well-established corporates.

If baking is something that interests you, then you can consider monetising this hobby which requires minimum investment and a small home set-up of a stable broadband internet that allows you to engage and popularise your business via the world wide web.

The broadband connection also allows you to try new recipes and allows you to offer an extensive set of flavours and combinations.

Freelance Graphic Designer:
Unique content is the only thing that will help people stand out on social media. With the demand for graphic designers with a unique aesthetic on a rise, people who have a knack for designing and using basics of photoshop and illustrator have a unique opportunity to collaborate with popular brands to replicate their vision.

The field only requires you to invest in software and stable internet connection to connect with prospective clients.

Through the power of a steady internet connection, you can create an exhaustive portfolio on Behance which can be extended to your potential clients. Not just limiting to building a portfolio and reaching out to potential clients, you can also learn different tricks for Corel Draw, ProCreate, Photoshop and try tips by famous graphic designers via YouTube to have a more immersive experience.

Start your e-Boutique:
The concept of tailor made clothing is on the rise again. Since it is difficult for people to go out and look for a boutique owing to the lockdown, what you can instead do is bring an e-boutique closer to them.

To start your internet shop, you don’t have to be a student of fashion designing, nor do you have to have exhaustive experience in the industry. All you need is the ability to design for basic clothing requirements, at the same time have an understanding of different kinds of fabrics and a tailor that can help you out. With the help of a steady broadband connection you can connect with potential clients and understand their requirements.

Freelance content writer
Content is the fuel that drives the world wide web. Starting from websites to e-commerce platforms to social media, perfectly written content is what basically helps businesses stand out.

If you have the ability to weave stories and can string sentences together, then you should try to dabble in this segment.

Create a niche, build a website and share some samples online, your journey to become a content writer is just inches away.

Start Your YouTube Channel:
YouTube is one of the most rewarding platform on the internet. If you are good and creative with your content, and have a knack for creating trending and insightful videos, along with a good broadband connection, you can outshine most of your competitors and create trending content.

All you need to become a YouTuber is a good camera (a phone’s camera would work too), a laptop to edit videos and of course, a good and strong internet connection to upload and promote your videos.

Finding a job is never an easy task but with the country finally heading towards the unlock, many companies have started looking for people who can help manage their growth. Understanding that people would need a steady guide to prepare and search for the opportunities, we have worked on a list that will easily help you find a job and give your profile an edge using the internet:

Canva Selects: Resumes that attract
Resume is the annexure of your career and holds the capabilities of making your career story stand out, thus it is important to design one that is a mix of both, aesthetic and a proper format that perfectly highlights your professional journey.

For times like this, Canva comes in handy as they already have multiple formats that can be chosen from and help give your resume an edge.

Finding opportunities:
The interconnection ability is not just limited to friendly banter and sharing memes, internet these days is also home to direct communication from multiple companies about job openings. After designing your resume, you can easily search for opportunities that suit your profile using platforms like LinkedIn, Glassdoor and Naukri.

Finding interview hacks through online preparations:
Preparing for interviews is as important as finding the right job. During the whole pre-interview process, ensure that you read about the company and the kind of work that they do. Also brush up on industry trends as they come handy during these interactions. This set of information can be easily found via a stable and symmetric internet connection.

Presenting yourself on a video calling platform:
After all the formalities and a couple of rounds, the company would be interested to schedule a video interview to better understand your job profile and for that, you must get a hang of the platform they prefer to use. Reach out to friends and family to conduct a couple of mock interviews so they can help you understand how your body language looks on the screen and if there are some attributes/questions that you need to focus on.

Also, you need to be particular about your broadband connection and internet speed, because the last thing you would want in the middle of the interview is lags and call drops.