MY! A social media platform is set to be launched in May 2021, and while we are not so sure of the name, its founders are confident of more than just the name. “Having developed the app over a period of two years, with a series of tests; we are now confident that the app is ready to be released to the world”, Samuel Zean Jr, Co- founder, MY! says.
With over 4 billion internet users across the world and growing by 332 million in the past 12 months and more than 900,000 new users each day, MY! Presents a platform where these users especially from developing economies can tell their story their own way and own the platform. Globally, internet user numbers are growing at an annual rate of more than 7½ percent, but year-on-year growth is much higher in many developing economies.
This is not the first time we will see Africans make an effort to develop a “for Africans by Africans” social media platform. In the past, platforms like Bandeka, named by Forbes as one of “Africa’s Hottest Startups,” and the brainchild of Harvard Business school friends Yaw Boateng and Tunde Kehinde launched, as did Eskimi. Though Lithuanian, the platform gained massive users from across Africa. Then, there was the Linda Ikeji app which saw a lot of celebrities endorse and use it, but briefly. While all three platforms are now inactive, other made in Africa social media apps like Yookos still exist but the biggest challenge remains the inability of the existing ones to go mainstream.
With payment, made in Africa apps are unarguably top of mind but when it comes to social networking, the western developed apps always swallow them up and this raises some questions. Could this be as a result of the socio-political climate in Africa, poorly thought out products or whitewashing of western developed apps? In Twitter speak, we are not ready for that conversation.
Developed and founded by a small group of self-funded African immigrant community from Liberia and Sierra Leone who reside in Minnesota, the MY! app is meant to take on both Facebook and Instagram. “In a time of so much unrest, it brings hope to many seeing this diverse group of people coming together to create something special for the world”. Adam Borgerding, VP of Operations, MY!
On his part, Zean Jr of MY! adds, “majority of Africans complain of how African nations are portrayed by the western countries on both traditional media and digital media. The MY! app is developed by Africans for Africans to help change this narrative. Whereby, everyone is given a chance to tell their story their way.”
MY! is an inclusive social media platform that appeals to all age groups. The app provides unmatched user experience, engagement, interaction and entertainment. The app’s interface is user friendly and easy to navigate through. It enables users to share content effortlessly, by providing feedback and updating a post status. It simplifies the collaboration between users and gives them the full visibility of content created.
Furthermore, the app gives users the opportunity to retain the rights of authentication for their work. MY! allows its users to maximize their creativity to the maximum and rewards them for every uploaded post shared (Reminiscent of Linda Ikeji’s app circa 2013). MY! will enable users to represent their country by showcasing an individual’s country’s unique attraction sites, features, wildlife, culture, cuisine, art, skills, talent, stories, business hustle, history and so much more.
MY! will officially launch on May 10th, 2021 and will be readily available on Google Play and Apple Store.
Look out for a review on TechCity when it’s public.