Online mystics cash in during Myanmar virus lockdown

Description: 

"Myanmar lawyer Thiri had been excited about her wedding and new job this year - before the coronavirus threw both into doubt. With the stars very much unaligned, she turned to an astrology app for help. For a fee of a few dollars, Thiri's online mystic advised the 26-year-old to carry out kind deeds around her home, from donating flowers to feeding animals on the street, to ensure good karma. "I'm going to follow all her advice," Thiri tells AFP, praising the Min Thein Kha app for its convenience at a time when the doors to her usual real-life astrologer at a downtown Yangon temple are securely shut for the city's lockdown. The Min Thein Kha platform - the only one of its kind in Myanmar - was launched two years ago. Its creators claim to have two million registered customers and 50,000 daily active users. Users log on, select one of the 23 astrologers profiled on the app and submit a question, paying in advance by bank or mobile phone transfer with the promise of an audio file reply within 48 hours..."

Source/publisher: 

"CNA" ( Singapore)

Date of Publication: 

2020-04-25

Date of entry: 

2020-04-26

Grouping: 

  • Individual Documents

Category: 

Countries: 

Myanmar

Language: 

English

Resource Type: 

text

Text quality: 

    • Good