Bengaluru: Digital social platform FRND has released findings from its Safe Space Survey, revealing that concerns around privacy, fear of judgement and online negativity are reshaping how users interact online. Based on responses from 12,666 users collected through in-app multiple-choice pop-ups, the survey highlights a growing preference for voice-based conversations, regional languages and safer digital environments.
According to the survey, 48% of respondents identified lack of privacy as the biggest barrier to expressing themselves freely on digital platforms, while 45% said fear of being judged by people they know prevents them from being authentic on mainstream social media. Additionally, 29% cited trolling, hate speech and online negativity as key deterrents, while 20% pointed to the pressure of maintaining a curated online image.
The findings indicate that safety remains the most important factor in online interactions. Half of the respondents (50%) said strong safety and moderation features make them most comfortable engaging on a digital platform, ahead of avatar-based identities (45%) and audio interactions (37%).
Voice communication also emerged as the preferred mode of building emotional connections. Around 66% of respondents said hearing another person’s voice makes them feel the most connected, significantly ahead of video calls (29%) and text messaging (28%). Among language groups, Hindi-speaking users showed the strongest preference for voice interactions at 70%, while Malayalam speakers recorded the lowest preference at 58%, though voice remained the dominant choice across all languages.
The survey also underscored the importance of regional languages in digital interactions. Nearly 78% of respondents said they express themselves better in their mother tongue, with the figure rising to 84% among Telugu and Malayalam-speaking users.
Malayalam-speaking respondents consistently demonstrated the strongest preference for privacy and safer online experiences. They recorded the highest preference for safety and moderation features (62%), cited lack of privacy as a barrier more than any other group (60%), and were also the most likely to use social media primarily for entertainment (62%).
The survey further found that digital platforms are serving two equally important consumer needs, with 49% of respondents using social media mainly for entertainment, while 46% said their primary motivation is connecting with others.
Commenting on the findings, Bhanu Pratap Singh Tanwar, Co-founder & CEO, FRND, said, “The survey highlights a stark difference between what traditional social media platforms offer and what Bharat users are actually looking for in their digital experiences. People are more comfortable being themselves online when they don’t have to put up a picture, when they can speak instead of type, and when they can converse in their own Indic language. One of the most telling insights was that 45% of users said fear of judgment from people they already know, not strangers, holds them back from expressing themselves. Because so much of our online behaviour is shaped by that social conservatism, people need a digital third space that’s empathetic and warm, not just functional, and that’s what we’ve built FRND to be.”
FRND currently has more than 3 million monthly active users across India. On average, users spend over 30 minutes on the platform each day, generating nearly 1.39 million conversations and 1.75 million minutes of interaction daily.
The survey findings reflect a broader shift in India’s digital landscape, suggesting that users increasingly value privacy, authenticity and language familiarity over conventional social media engagement, while highlighting the growing importance of voice-led and regionally tailored digital experiences.
