Public – Indian Local Videos (or simply Public) is a location-based video app designed for users in India to share and view short video updates about what’s happening in their own city and local area.
It’s not just about entertainment: the app focuses heavily on local news, real-life incidents, and community issues. Through it, people post short videos about everything from a cricket match in their neighborhood to a power cut, a religious event, or even traffic jams.
The app is built by Public app (the same developer), and is offered for free.
Origins and Growth
Public was launched by Inshorts, a well-known Indian news startup. According to the Inshorts blog, Public became very popular quickly — within six months of its beta release, it had 10 million users. (Inshorts Blog)
One reason for its rapid adoption: Public empowers local communities, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, to share real-time updates using their smartphones. (Inshorts Blog)
Also noteworthy: users of Public create a huge volume of content. As reported, about 1 million videos are created on Public every month (according to Inshorts). (Inshorts Blog)
Key Features of the App
Here are the main features that make Public unique and useful for local communities:
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Short Local Videos
Users can upload and watch bite-sized video clips about local happenings — whether it’s a festival, road construction, an accident, or a job fair. (App City) -
Real-Time City Updates
The app functions almost like a local news feed. You get instant updates about what’s going on in your city or neighborhood. (Uptodown) -
Multiple Languages Supported
Public supports many Indian languages: Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Assamese, Telugu, etc. (APK Cafe)This is significant because local news is more meaningful when delivered in one’s own language.
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Location-Based Content
Since the app is location-based, you can see content relevant to your specific city or region. (Uptodown)That means you don’t have to wade through national or irrelevant news — the focus stays local.
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User Participation
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Record & Share: Anyone with the app can record and upload their own video. (App City)
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Report Issues: The app lets users report real problems — like water shortage, power cuts, or broken roads — through video. (APK Cafe)
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Engage: Users can comment on videos, follow other local creators, and receive notifications when new things happen in their area. (Uptodown)
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Notifications
You can set up alerts for “breaking local stuff” — so if something important or surprising happens in your city, Public notifies you. (App Store) -
Free and Made in India
The app is free to download and use. (App City)It is also a “Made in India” initiative, which appeals to users wanting home-grown social platforms. (App City)
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Inpix Feature (in newer versions)
According to its update notes, Public added a feature called Inpix which allows users to create personalized greetings, festival wishes, and motivational messages with their own photo and name. (APKMirror)
Who Uses Public — And Why It Matters
The user base for Public is broad, especially in smaller cities and towns. Here's why it is important:
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Citizen Journalism: Ordinary people become reporters. If there’s a traffic jam, a protest, or a flood, residents can record and upload videos to inform others.
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Local Civic Engagement: Public gives a voice to users — they can highlight issues (like broken roads or water shortages) that local government or media might ignore.
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Community Connection: Neighbors connect through the app. People from the same city can share things that only matter locally, rather than seeing national or global content.
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Real-Time Alerts: Because it's video-based, people get a more real and “on the ground” feel of what is happening — not just text headlines.
In addition, the app’s popularity in Tier‑2 and Tier‑3 cities (as noted by Inshorts) shows that many Indians appreciate a hyperlocal platform. (Inshorts Blog)
Strengths & Use Cases
Let’s look at some concrete strengths and use cases for Public:
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Neighborhood News: If you're interested in what’s happening in your immediate surroundings — like new constructions, traffic issues, or local festivals — Public is very handy.
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Emergency Situations: In case of natural disasters, power outages, or accidents, local users can share real‑time video updates, which may be faster than traditional media.
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Grassroots Reporting: It can act like a low-cost, citizen-powered news channel. You don’t need to be a professional journalist to report a local story.
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Local Events: Whether it is a mela (fair), political rally, or a celebrity visit, people can capture and broadcast what is happening in their city.
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Civic Accountability: Citizens can highlight civic issues — e.g., water contamination, potholes — pushing local administrations to respond.
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Cultural Preservation: Local festivals, traditional practices, or regional stories get recorded and shared, which helps preserve cultural identity.
Challenges and Criticisms
However, the app is not free of drawbacks. Based on user reviews and independent sources, here are some of the major criticisms:
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Excessive Ads
Many users complain that Public shows too many advertisements. According to reviews, the ad load is heavy and interrupts the news-watching experience. (Chrome Stats) -
Privacy Concerns
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Some users have raised questions about data collection. Given that the app is location-based, it inherently collects location data.
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According to a Reddit thread, Public’s privacy policy has not been updated in a while, which makes some users uneasy. (Reddit)
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Quality of Content
Because anyone can upload content, not all videos are high-quality or fact-checked. There is a risk of misinformation if users share sensational or unverified content. -
Network Dependence
For real-time video uploading and viewing, a stable internet connection is needed. In some regions, bandwidth may be limited or expensive, which could hinder engagement. -
Moderation
With so much user-generated content, moderation is a major challenge. Ensuring that videos are safe, non-inflammatory, and in compliance with guidelines is difficult for any platform.
How Public Compares to Other Indian Video Apps
Public is not the only Indian app focusing on local content or video sharing — there are a few others, though their focus may differ:
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Josh App: A short-video app launched after TikTok was banned in India. Its target is broader short entertainment content rather than strictly local updates. (Wikipedia)
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Roposo: Another Indian video-sharing app where users post content around fashion, food, music, and general entertainment. (Wikipedia)
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Simply Local: A community social network that is more about neighborhood broadcasting and connecting to local residents. (Wikipedia)
Compared to these, Public’s strength lies in its hyperlocal news‑video angle, rather than purely entertainment or social networking.
Why Public Is Important for Local Democracy & Citizen Empowerment
One of the most powerful things about a platform like Public is that it democratizes local information. Here’s how:
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Citizen Participation: Regular people can become content creators, not just passive consumers. This helps decentralize who gets to “report” or highlight local issues.
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Transparency: With people sharing their first-hand footage of civic problems (roads, protests, government events), there is more transparency about local governance and daily life.
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Collective Awareness: Since Public encourages sharing of local alerts (like power cuts or water crises), communities become more aware and possibly more resilient.
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Representation: Often, mainstream media ignores small-town issues or local incidents. Public gives a voice where there was none — particularly in non-metro areas.
Future Prospects and Growth
Public’s future seems promising, given its current trajectory and the increasing digital penetration in smaller cities. Some possible directions for growth:
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Monetization & Premium Features
While the app is free now, Public could introduce premium features (ad-free viewing, promoted content, verified local creators) to monetize better. -
Improved Moderation & Verification
To increase trust, the app might implement better mechanisms for user verification, content verification, or even tie-ups with local media. -
More Languages / Regions
Expanding further into regional languages and covering more districts will help grow its user base. -
Partnerships with NGOs / Government
Public can collaborate with local governments or civic NGOs to promote civic awareness, disaster response, or local campaigns. -
Better Data Privacy Controls
As data concerns grow, Public could offer stronger privacy controls (user-level permission, opt-out for location) to address user fears.
My Verdict
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Strengths: Public is a very relevant and needed platform for local communities in India. It empowers citizens, amplifies on-the-ground voices, and brings relevant local updates into one mobile app.
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Weaknesses: The ad experience is a major downside, and privacy/data concerns are valid, especially for a location-based service. Also, content quality and moderation need constant improvement.
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Best For: Anyone who cares about their own city, local civic issues, or wants to stay plugged into neighborhood-level happenings rather than just national or global news.
Conclusion
“Public – Indian Local Videos” is not just another entertainment app — it’s a local citizen journalism and community platform. In a country as diverse and vast as India, having a space where local stories, crises, and celebrations are shared via short videos is powerful. The app represents a bridge between real people and real issues in their own cities.
Despite some challenges (ads, privacy), Public’s impact on local engagement could grow significantly in coming years. As more users from small towns and cities join in, the platform could become an essential tool for grassroots communication, civic reporting, and community building.
If you want to stay informed about what’s happening in your city, or even contribute your point of view, Public is an app worth exploring.