TikTok competitor Mitron returns: Here are all the changes
What's the story
Mitron, the video-sharing app that shot to fame as 'India's answer to TikTok' before being pulled from Google Play Store, has made an official comeback. The service looks pretty much similar to the version that got removed, but there are some important changes, largely aimed at allaying the privacy concerns people may have in connection to the app. Here is more about it.
App
Offering a TikTok-like experience on the surface
Mitron was launched with the promise of offering an 'Indian platform' to create short videos that are lip-synced to movie dialogs and songs, just like TikTok. On the surface, the app looked like its Chinese counterpart and offered an upward/downward scrolling 'Home' feed of videos, a central tab to 'create and share' clips, and options to access your own profile and 'Discover' videos.
Instant growth
5 million downloads in a month
The idea of an Indian app taking on China's TikTok, which has been criticized for promoting misogynistic content, made Mitron an instant hit. The platform raked in 50 lakh+ downloads in a month and topped Play Store's free apps charts. To note, the name 'Mitron', which is PM Modi's vocal-for-local call, and the anti-China sentiments prevailing in the country further helped the app grow.
Problems
Soon, various issues started surfacing
As Mitron drew attention, it also became a subject of criticism. First, it was revealed that the app is not actually Indian; its source code was purchased from a Pakistani company and used without any modifications. Then, many security experts raised alarms over the fact that the app did not have a privacy policy, which could put the user's data into jeopardy.
Removal
The concerns prompted Google to remove Mitron
In light of the concerns, Google removed Mitron on June 2, citing a violation of policies that require apps to provide minimum basic functionality without blatantly copying content from other apps. However, the internet giant also issued a statement clarifying that it has given Mitron's developer some guidance to help them fix the known issues and resubmit their app for Play Store listing.
Changes
Now, the app is back with a slightly tweaked UI
After staying unavailable for three days, Mitron has gone back up on the Play Store. The app, which was updated on June 3, still focuses on letting users create videos but its interface has been tweaked. The 'Discover' and 'Inbox' buttons have been removed from the bottom while remaining ones have been replaced with new icons to make the app look different from TikTok.
Privacy policy
Importantly, a well detailed privacy policy is now available
Along with UI changes, Mitron has also updated its privacy policy. The Play Store listing of the app mentions mitron.tv as its official website. If you visit that page, it shows a clear privacy policy that explains the information the Mitron app collects, how it could be used by its promoters, and the rights of the users with respect to their data.
Other issues
Bug, other issues also patched
Finally, Mitron's changelog also indicates that its bugs, crash issues, and video upload issues have been fixed. It is evident that the makers of the app are trying to improve the platform's image so that they could continue the joy ride and rake in more downloads in the future. But, the fact is, only time can tell how things will go from here.