In Short
- Survey by Snapchat and YouGov reveals 96 per cent of Indians have nicknames.
- Report highlights, Gen Z’s use nicknames commonly as passwords or usernames.
- Snap has added new AI lenses after getting inspired by the survey on nicknames.
By Divya BhatiAlmost everyone in India has a nickname. In some cases, the nickname is more popular than the official name of the person. The idea of giving nicknames is so common in the country that a recent study by Snapchat and YouGov on the Indian culture of nicknames reveals that this practice is more widespread than we might think. The survey shows that 96% of Indians have used a nickname at some point in their lives.
The study further highlights that the five most common nicknames in India are Sonu, Babu, Chotu, Annu, and Chintu. Going with the regional names, in North India, Golu and Sunny reign, while Ammu and Macha are widely popular in the southern region. In the eastern regions, Shona and Mishti, while the West likes Pinky and Dada.
Significantly, 60 percent of the surveyed respondents admitted that they received their nicknames in childhood or during school, and many Gen Zs – people born between 1996 and 2010 – use them online across their social media platforms. The use of nicknames not only makes them look cool but also allows them to use them as passwords to protect their privacy or make them easier to remember..
Since nicknames hold such significance to people nationwide, Snapchat has decided to make them even more special. The multimedia instant messaging app has introduced two new Augmented Reality (AR) Lenses themed around nicknames – ‘India’s Top Nicknames’ and ‘My Nickname’. These new AI lenses were inspired by the company’s recent study on nicknames.
Talking about the new fun nickname AI lenses, Kanishk Khanna, Director Media Partnerships – APAC, Snap Inc said, “Nicknames are such an integral part of Indian lives and given to us by our real connections – friends or family. We wanted to share some fun findings on Indian nicknames – from the weird and wacky to the oddball, romantic and downright hilarious, this custom nickname AR experience will help bring users closer to their inner circle and enable the fun and joy of sharing nicknames.”
Snapchat new nickname AR Lenses
The joint study of Snapchat and YouGov has inspired Snap to create two new nickname-themed Augmented Reality (AR) Lenses on Snapchat – ‘India’s Top Nicknames’ and ‘My Nickname’. The first Lens includes five bespoke designs featuring India’s favorite nicknames, while the second Lens allows Snapchatters to create their very own customized nickname.
These fun lenses are designed to enable Snapchatters to proudly embrace their unique nicknames and share them with their friends and family. Whether it’s Guddu, Sunny, Tinku, Angel, or Baby, Snapchat’s custom nickname AR Lenses provide a fun way to celebrate individuality and foster personal connections.
Snapchat notes that the two nickname lenses will be available in India from June 21. Users can search for ‘IN Top Nicknames’ and ‘My Nickname IN’ in the lens carousel to get in on the fun. Here is a steep by step guide to use Snapchat lenses.
How to use nickname lenses on Snapchat
- Open the Snapchat app on your phone.
- Tap on the Lens icon in the top-right corner of the screen.
- In the lens carousel, search for “India’s Top Nicknames” or “My Nickname”.
- Once you find the lens you want to use, tap on it to activate it.
- Point your phone to your face and the lens will appear on your screen.
- You can move your head around to see the lens from different angles.
- To take a photo or video with the lens, tap on the Capture button.
- To share your photo or video, tap on the Send button.
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