Clubhouse, NFT Avatars After AI: 8 Internet Trends That Once Ruled India's Social Media

Indian internet culture is evolving faster than ever. A new app, format or online obsession can dominate timelines for months before disappearing almost overnight. From lockdown-era audio rooms to NFT profile pictures and AI avatar apps, several digital trends have seen explosive adoption across India, only to fizzle out just as quickly.

Here are eight internet trends that briefly dominated Indian social media before losing steam.

Clubhouse rooms

During the COVID-19 lockdown, the audio chat platform Clubhouse has become one of the most talked about social apps in India. Its invite-only model created a sense of exclusivity as startup founders, creators, investors and influencers spent hours holding discussions late into the night.

At their peak, clubhouses became networking hubs for young professionals and budding creators. However, once the blocking restrictions were eased, engagement plummeted and many Indian users moved on.

Alternatives to TikTok

After the Indian government banned TikTok in 2020, several local short video platforms rushed to fill the gap. Apps like Chingari, Moj and MX TakaTak have seen millions of downloads within months.

Influencers migrated rapidly, brands experimented with regional content and investors poured money into the sector. However, momentum slowed down after Instagram Reels tapped into Instagram’s massive existing user base and eventually dominated the Indian short video market again.

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NFT profile pictures

In 2021 and early 2022, NFT culture exploded across the Indian Twitter and Discord communities. Crypto enthusiasts, creators and startup founders proudly displayed expensive digital art profile pictures from projects like Bored Ape Yacht Club and anime-style collections.

Conversations around Web3, blockchain communities, and digital ownership have become mainstream in tech circles. But as cryptocurrency prices fell worldwide and fraud increased, public excitement quickly cooled. Many NFT communities have lost activity and almost disappeared from Indian social media.

Anonymous social app

Apps based on anonymous messages and confessions have repeatedly gone viral among Indian college students and young users. Platforms promising “unfiltered honesty” attracted users curious about secret opinions, confessions and campus gossip.

These apps often spread quickly through Instagram stories and WhatsApp groups. However, moderation issues, cyberbullying concerns, and toxic content made retention difficult. Several apps struggled to maintain long-term engagement after the initial viral curiosity wore off.

Live audio dating sites

During the years of lockdown, apps like Clubhouse, Discord and Telegram, along with Indian social platforms like FRND and Bolo Live, saw a surge in live audio dating and friendship rooms.

As isolation peaked in the lockdown era, users flocked to voice chat spaces to flirt, socialize, play games or simply talk to strangers late into the night. Creators hosted anonymous confessionals and conversations aimed at Gen Z, which quickly turned the format into a viral internet trend.

But as offline life returned and mainstream platforms improved their own community features, the hype around dedicated audio dating sites gradually faded.

Stock Exchange Guru Telegram

Retail investments in India surged during the pandemic, as did Telegram channels that claimed to offer “guaranteed” business tips and quick profits. Thousands of users have joined groups focused on trading options, penny stocks and intraday calls. Influencers have built a huge following by posting screenshots of earnings and market predictions.

Over time, fraud allegations, financial losses, and tighter regulatory scrutiny eroded confidence in many such channels, slowing the craze significantly.

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Viral productivity communities

A culture of online productivity has exploded among Indian students preparing for exams, internships and competitive tests. Discord study servers, Pomodoro live streams, and YouTube “study with me” sessions have created communities of digital accountability.

While this trend helped many during the distance learning years, audience fatigue gradually set in as routines normalized and offline college life returned.

AI Avatar application

AI-generated avatar apps briefly dominated Indian social media in 2022 and 2023. Users uploaded selfies to transform themselves into fantasy warriors, anime characters, movie heroes or futuristic portraits. The trend spread quickly because the images were highly shareable and visually dramatic.

However, after the news wore off, many users stopped paying for premium avatar packages or repeatedly generating images.