Google clearly mentions on its policy website for app developers that it doesn't allow "apps that contain or promote sexually explicit content, such as pornography. Non-graphic nudity, mild language and simulated gambling are also permitted, but sexual expletives are not." Google's 12+ rating means: "Violence involving fantasy characters and/or non-graphic violence involving human-looking characters or animals is permitted. Google's Play Store, which has much larger presence in India, just rates the app as "12+, parental guidance recommended." The listing on Apple's App Store, however, clearly mentions that the app has "Infrequent/Mild Sexual Content and Nudity Infrequent/Mild Realistic Violence and Frequent/Intense Mature/Suggestive Themes." As expected, the results are mostly of women with captions such as "Hot Girl Bigo Live 88" and "Bigo live Girl Nipple Showing | 18+." On YouTube, a quick search " bigo live girls" displays a number of results claiming to be screen recording of live streams. Moderators inspect the content 24 hours (a day)."īut the moderators seem to be asleep, given the borderline pornography widely prevalent in the application. Any display of smoking, vulgarity, pornography and nudity is prohibited on Bigo Live. Surprisingly, the live stream screen pops up with a message that says: "Be polite and respectful. Screenshots of Bigo Live recommendations and live stream thumbnails.
In one of the other live streams, I saw two people (in short windows on the side) hurling choice abuses at each other in Hindi on a live video call.
The screen displayed a phone number where she demanded the transfer of a certain amount of money in her Paytm account, after which would make a WhatsApp video call to the person concerned. The camera mostly focused on her breasts. I opened a live stream of a vlogger called "Tannu", who could be seen lying in bed in her night gown. At the bottom of the live stream screen, you'll notice a flurry of messages asking the women to perform certain activities or respond to their messages (similar to comments on a live video on Facebook). While some of the live streams are "harmless" ones of women or men dancing or doing random things, some feature women making innuendos and lewd gestures. A quick glance at the application shows multiple thumbnails featuring objectionable images of women. However, in India, the application has become a platform for obscene content - with mostly men flocking to live-stream windows of women responding to their comments and video calls. "Initially launched in March 2016, BIGO LIVE became the most popular App and ranked #1 in Apple App Store and Google Play in the Thailand market since launch," the company says. The in-app purchases range from ₹69 to ₹6,000 on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.ĭriven by an innovative concept and gamification element, Bigo Live is popular in South East countries. To cash out, a live streamer needs to have at least 6,700 beans in their account. Sporting an interface similar to Periscope and Meerkat, Bigo Live also allows users to monetise their live streams through in-app gifts that can be encashed for real money.
The application is listed between the download range of 100,000,000-500,000,000, no small feat for an application that was launched just over a year ago.ĭeveloped by Singapore-based BIGO TECHNOLOGY PTE LTD, Bigo Live is essentially a live video blogging application where one can live broadcast anything they are up to. Waqar, however, isn't the only person hooked to Bigo Live, which claims to have 150 million users around the world. The app sought a subscription fee for actually video-chatting with the women," Waqar told me with much disappointment.
"I uninstalled the app after using it for some days.