Fastest way to form frenemies? Pal-rating app Peeple sparks online outrage
We can rate restaurants, services and Uber drivers. But have a terrible date or a mean boss? You can only complain to your friends about it. Now a new app wants to change that ‒ by rating people. Even before launching, it’s already sparked online outrage.
#peeple is one of the top trending hashtags on US twitter today, after a Washington Post article featured the upcoming application, which will likely launch in November.
The app, called Peeple, will allow people to rate nannies, coworkers, neighbors, dates. Reviewers will have to register with their Facebook account.
The original #Peeple app... pic.twitter.com/4wMSXfIIQS
— Chelsie Angeles (@ChelsieAngeles) October 1, 2015Venture capitalists seem to have been sold on the idea of an “online village,” and the company’s shares put its value at $7.6 million, according to the Washington Post.
Ever wondered what would happened if capitalism took the form of Regina George? Meet @peepleforpeople#Peeplepic.twitter.com/ImGfTjZ1mF
— Occupy Wall Street (@OccupyWallStNYC) 1 октября 2015The app’s founders claim they will have a system installed to prevent online bullying, but the Twitterverse doesn’t seem to be buying it.
lets get this banned before it gets life to harm people....https://t.co/2a7zlY4NAt please RT and sign #Peeple
— engineer_nerd (@engineer_nerd) 1 октября 2015I'm really mad that someone made a "Rate a Human" appplication how can this be. #ERASE#Peeple#ERASEPEEPLE
— Ruthenbert @AGPrence (@Killingruben13) 1 октября 2015There are two main sticking points: You can’t opt out of being reviewed, even if you don’t download the app or join the community, and you can’t delete bad or biased reviews of you.
#Peeple may consider letting you opt out in the future. EVEN IF THEY DO, that would oblige victims to do work. pic.twitter.com/g03TJXnnlh
— Ana Mardoll (@AnaMardoll) 1 октября 2015Been trying to read facts on #Peeple. Can't opt out but can contest/work out negative ratings? Like non-users want/have time to manage this.
— Phillip Ginn (@phillipginn) 1 октября 2015The entire human race has decided to opt out of #Peeple, correct? This is where we draw the line, right?
— Brian Gresko (@briangresko) 1 октября 2015Hell, I shouldn't have to opt out of a social media network. I am not a business or a public figure. I have the right to my privacy. #Peeple
— Clodia Risa (@clodia_risa) 1 октября 2015Many have wondered if the app could be hit with a lawsuit.
So a lawsuit against #peeple in __ days? I mean seriously, I don't think mother nature gave us brains to come up with ideas like this. #fail
— Julz (@SkyGreenChick) 1 октября 2015I'd be really interested to get the legal view on #Peeple. Profiles set up without permission? How is that consistent with EU law?
— thewisdomtooth (@thewisdomtooth) 1 октября 2015My 8-yr-old already invented #Peeple. This is going to court. pic.twitter.com/nXkTjqDqRI
— Ken Jennings (@KenJennings) 1 октября 2015The company’s website has been down since Wednesday morning.
We really struggled with finding a positive tweet about this app.
The trending topic says that #Peeple lets you rate human beings like restaurants, but human beings ARE restaurants. pic.twitter.com/yYnSCfrK0d
— Feline Frequency (@catfreq) 1 октября 2015Peeple’s two founders, Julia Cordray and Nicole McCullough, describe their invention as a “positive app.”
“People do so much research when they buy a car or make those kinds of decisions,” Corday told the Washington Post. “Why not do the same kind of research on other aspects of your life?”
Mc Cullough, who is a mother of two, said that sometimes people have trouble deciding who to trust their kids with.
And its founders seemed to have problems with fighting online rage.
People are trolling #Peeple and one of the founders doesn't like it... Oh the sweet, sweet irony. pic.twitter.com/OwxYbxPTrU
— BrilliantSocialMedia (@brilliantsocial) 1 октября 2015Because, once you rate your friends, they may quickly turn into frenemies.
