Communication During the Coronavirus Crisis: This Hyperlocal App Helps Residents Communicate Within Their Neighbourhood
In the last few months, COVID-19 has demanded a lockdown on social gatherings, even in our neighbourhoods. We have access to all the information in the world, but don’t know what’s happening right outside our house. This is where hyperlocal communication apps like Simply Local help - in broadcasting information about a user’s locality.
Using this app, residents can post about the latest developments in their neighbourhood, review businesses around them, as well as stay up-to-date about any government orders issued, among other things.
Founded in 2016 by Nikhil Bapna, this app is considered the third generation of social media, after Orkut and Facebook. It allows users to build micro-communities and enabling them to post relevant information that can be viewed by members of their locality.
Simply Local creates private geo-fenced networks for people residing in an area and every user can log into their community’s network. The app provides social and community-related services within that network, thereby acting as a social media platform created specifically for a residential society.
While each colony in a large city constitutes an independent network, villages become a community network within itself. Each network has an upper limit of 10,000 residents.
Focus on community engagement
When the lockdown was first announced, there were stringent restrictions on movement, and people were hoarding up on face masks and sanitisers. During this time, Simply Local came to the rescue by empowering Resident Welfare Associations to take cognisance of their members’ needs.
Since sensitive information is disseminated by residents on the app, Simply Local makes sure privacy and security are maintained. According to the company, there are systems in place to check the posted content, and several other features that provide enhanced security to the users.
The app has been created with an objective to bridge the gap between residents and local government bodies, so that important matters can be resolved quickly.
(Edited by Athira Nair)
