Moj — often called “Moj: Short Drama & Reels” — is a short‑video social media application developed by ShareChat (Mohalla Tech) from India. (Gadgets 360)
Moj allows users to create, upload, watch, and share short videos (originally 15 seconds, though newer versions allow up to 60 seconds) with features like music, filters, effects, stickers, and editing tools. (Wikipedia)
Its appeal lies in being a “Made‑in‑India” alternative to apps like TikTok, especially after TikTok and several other Chinese apps were banned in India in 2020. (Gadgets 360)
📈 Growth and Popularity
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Moj was launched on 1 July 2020, just days after the ban on TikTok. (The Indian Express)
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Within a short time, Moj got tens of thousands of downloads. For example, in just two days it had over 50,000 downloads. (Gadgets 360)
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In less than six months, Moj — along with some other Indian short‑video apps — crossed 100 million downloads. (The Indian Express)
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At its peak, Moj reportedly had over 160 million monthly active users. (Wikipedia)
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The multilingual support (more than 15 Indian languages including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, etc.) made it especially popular in Tier‑2 and Tier‑3 cities, giving it a strong position among local users. (Wikipedia)
So especially in the wake of the TikTok ban, Moj filled a big void — offering a short‑video platform that catered to Indian audiences in their own languages and with local content sensibilities.
🔧 Key Features of Moj
Here are the main features that made Moj attractive for many users and content creators:
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Short Videos (15–60 seconds): Users can create bite‑sized videos — ideal for quick entertainment or viral reels. (Wikipedia)
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Filters, Effects, Stickers & Editing Tools: Moj offers AR filters, video editing tools, stickers, and emojis that help spruce up content, even without external editing software. (Appmok)
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Music Integration: Users can add music, songs (including from Indian/ regional libraries) to their videos. Moj has ties with music labels to license tracks. (Wikipedia)
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Multilingual / Regional Language Support: Since Moj supports many Indian languages (Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, etc.), it becomes accessible to a wide non‑English speaking audience. (Indiatimes)
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Community & Social Features: Like other social platforms, Moj allows users to follow creators, like/comment/share videos; creators can build followers, and users can discover content matching their interests. (AppEight)
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Free to Use (with ads): The core functionalities are free, though the platform does show ads — common for free social and entertainment apps. (Mobexer)
These features combined gave Moj the edge to grab a big user base, especially at a time when many Indian users were looking for alternatives after bans on Chinese short‑video apps.
✅ What’s Good About Moj – Pros & What Users Like
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Entertainment & Variety: Users enjoy the range of content — from comedy, dance, lip-sync, short dramas to everyday relatable videos. (AppBrain)
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Easy Content Creation: The built-in editing and music tools make it easy to create creative videos without needing external apps or high technical skills. (Republic World)
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Local Language Content & Wider Reach: Because of support for many Indian languages, creators and viewers from smaller towns or non-English backgrounds can use it comfortably — boosting inclusivity. (Indiatimes)
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Strong Community & Discoverability: New creators can find it easier to gain visibility and followers compared to big global apps. The algorithmic feed and trending feature help boost engagement. (The Indian Express)
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Free (Mostly): You don’t need to pay to watch or post videos — making it accessible for large user base; only ads or optional in‑app purchases may apply. (Mobexer)
For many users, Moj offers a simple, fun and localized way to make and consume short-form video content — which explains its rapid rise in popularity in India.
⚠️ Issues, Criticisms & Where Moj Falters
No app is perfect, and Moj has also faced several críticas and challenges from users and analysts:
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Frequent Advertisements and Interruptions: Many users complain about intrusive or excessive ads disrupting their viewing or creating experience. (Chrome Stats)
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Technical Issues: There are complaints of video-upload failures, lagging, crashes or glitches (especially on certain devices / under weaker network conditions). (Chrome Stats)
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Content Moderation & Quality Issues: As with many user-generated video platforms, there have been problems like inconsistent video quality, presence of inappropriate content or videos not meeting expectations. (AppEight)
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Monetization & Reward System Issues for Creators: Some creators report delayed rewards/payouts, inconsistent monetization, or difficulties redeeming benefits — which undermines trust. (App Store)
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Sustainability Concerns (for ShareChat/Moj Business): According to some recent reports, advertising income for Moj’s parent company has dropped; short‑video apps in India overall face revenue pressures as advertisers shift strategies. (Inc42 Media)
So while Moj offers many advantages, these problems — especially when monetization or content moderation are concerned — have disappointed some users and creators.
🎯 Who Should Use Moj & Who Should Be Cautious
Good for:
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People who enjoy short, quick‑to‑watch videos — comedy, dance, lip‑sync, short dramas, entertainment.
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Aspiring content creators who want an easy-to-use platform with editing tools, music, filters — especially creators outside metro cities or those comfortable in regional languages.
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Viewers looking for regional / local content and creators wanting to build a regional audience.
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Users who want a free entertainment platform without subscription — as long as they are okay with ads.
Be cautious if:
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You want high-quality, long-duration content (like long videos or movies), because Moj is optimized for short clips only.
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You are expecting reliable monetization or income — there have been complaints about payout irregularities.
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You mind frequent ads, occasional glitches, or possible content-quality variability.
🧑💻 Moj in the Indian Digital Ecosystem — Its Role & Impact
The rise of Moj is closely tied to the banning of TikTok and many Chinese apps in India in 2020. That created a sudden vacuum for short‑video content — and local apps like Moj, Josh, Chingari, etc., attempted to fill that void. (Gadgets 360)
For many Indian users — especially in smaller towns and non‑English backgrounds — Moj offered a “homegrown” alternative where they could both consume and create content in regional languages. This not only democratized content creation but also gave rise to many local influencers and creators who may not have had space on global apps. (Wikipedia)
However, sustaining that success has been challenging. As of recent reporting, for example, the parent company’s ad revenue share from Moj has dropped — indicating that advertisers and monetization models are under pressure. (Inc42 Media)
So Moj’s journey reflects both the opportunities and limitations of local-language social media in India: big potential for reach + creativity, but also vulnerabilities when it comes to revenue, competition, and quality control.
✍️ Conclusion: Moj — A Mixed Bag; Good, But Use with Realistic Expectations
Moj remains a significant milestone in India’s short‑video / social media evolution: a domestic app that managed to capture imagination and attention soon after the TikTok ban. Its multilingual support, ease of use, editing tools, and huge user base make it a viable platform for entertainment and creative expression — especially for regional-language creators and viewers.
Yet, there are shortcomings: excessive ads, occasional technical issues, inconsistent monetization for creators, and competitive pressure from global players or newer platforms. If you go in with realistic expectations — using it as a fun entertainment / creative playground, not a guaranteed income source — Moj can be a good fit.