Coconuts started as a small operation right here in Bangkok seven years ago, and ever since, we’ve been committed to our mission of bringing you the weirdest, most wondrous stories from the Big Mango.
While we’ve always been accessible on your smartphone, we’re now making local news even more easily accessible thanks to a new fancy app on iOS and Android. (Now would be the time for you to follow the link and download that baby.)
Not convinced? Let us tell you why the Coconuts app deserves a place on your phone and how it could make your life a little less complicated.
Quick read during your commute
Here’s a fact: The average Bangkokian spends 3 hours on their daily commute. Yes, we’re spending a ridiculous amount of time sitting in traffic, waiting for delayed skytrains, and staring at our own reflections on the tinted MRT windows. (Ed: You can do better.)
So during your painfully long ride home, why not open the Coconuts app and stay updated on what’s going in Bangkok? Besides, we’ll likely have the answer to why the skytrain that you’re waiting for is facing a major interruption as well as what urban developments are underway to help improve the traffic.
Tool to help you connect with your local friends
We’ve been there — going “ooh” and “aww” at whatever cat videos your coworkers show you in the elevator. The Coconuts app, however, will arm you with the latest viral videos and talk of town that will help you not only survive the daily chit-chat with your peers, but be the star of any conversation.
If you’re an expat, you can also immerse yourself in Thai culture — from the illustrated Thai Ghost Guide to controversial features about dual pricing to why the word “farang” is not offensive to Thais. Lived here for 10 years, yet speak Thai nid noi? We’ve got you covered, with engaging op-eds from Thai writers to expand your horizon.
Swift access to breaking news despite slow mobile internet
In a study last year that measured mobile internet speed in 87 countries, it didn’t surprise anyone when Thailand was ranked near the bottom of the list. Take it from us, a group of people who spend all day working on the internet, downloading a webpage on your phone can take up to a full minute.
Can you read Coconuts on traditional browsers on your phone? Yes, but the Coconuts app provides smoother and much quicker access to Bangkok’s top stories. Pro tip: Be sure to enable notifications, and we’ll be the first to let you know when a famous person gets arrested and all that.
Free from Facebook algorithms and rage
We believe that intelligent people are increasingly fed up with worthless content, fake news, and hateful discussions on dodgy expat groups that are constantly fueled by trolls. We believe that you’d like to actively choose what to read and not passively consume content selected by social media algorithms.
The Coconuts app lets you read the compelling investigative stories, quality features, and in-depth explainers from our editors from all over Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. A Thai woman fighting to get sex toys legalized? Yep. How Hong Kong is a “golden route” of timber trafficking to mainland China? Check. An exclusive interview with a diver who was 22 meters deep when the Lombok earthquake hit? We got it.
Once again, you can download the Coconuts app for free on the Apple and Google Play app stores.
If you want full access to our awesome original content though, be sure to join COCO+, the membership program that supports our independent journalism. Trust us, it’s for a good cause and costs as little as US$3.33 (about THB100) per month.
Why did we launch the paid membership? Our editors give their honest views on the paywall in these articles below:
In defense of paid content, or how we learned to love the paywall
Drew & the Medicinal Pen says
Smart. The tremendous effort and investment has already been made in creating this tool, สู้ x2!
-Drew