'Yelp for people' app developed in Canada greeted with online outrage
The internet doesn't agree on much, but when it does...
An app that allows users to rate people like they would rate a restaurant is scheduled for a November release, but it already has the internet up in arms.
Calgary-developed Peeple will allow users to rate other humans on a scale of one to five stars, much like a Yelp review.
All you need to create a profile for someone is their cellphone number. The subject of the profile cannot delete the comments or the rating, according to an article in the Washington Post.
"You're going to rate people in the three categories that you can possibly know somebody — professionally, personally or romantically," Peeple CEO and co-founder Julia Cordray told CBC Calgary in September. "So you'd be able to go on and choose your five-star rating, write a comment and you will not be anonymous."
Negative comments will sit unpublished in the person's inbox for 48 hours, giving them the opportunity to work out any disputes with the person who posted them, according to Peeple's website. If the dispute can't be resolved in that time, the comment will go live. The person can publicly defend themselves by commenting on the negative review.
According to the site, users must "agree" that they are 21 or over.
Cordray believes the app will help people make better decisions about who they interact with.
"You should have the right to know who somebody is before you invite them into your home, around your children. They become your neighbours, they teach your kids, you go on dates with them," said Corday.
It seems so far that few people on Twitter share her enthusiasm.
Many see potential for online bullying.
Human beings are living breathing people. Hasn't there been enough quantifying and objectifying of human life, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/peeple?src=hash">#peeple</a>?
—@TheTalenaI have a feeling this has the potential to start wars. Who thought this would be a good idea? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Peeple?src=hash">#Peeple</a>
—@priscilagoodallMy god. The concept behind <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Peeple?src=hash">#Peeple</a> has got to be the worst thing on the internet
—@soulamamiPeeple: For people who graduated high school but miss the sense of superiority being judgmental and catty provided.
—@Desert_BellModel and TV host Chrissy Teigen called it 'horrible' and 'scary.'
In an age where both truth and gossip on the Internet can literally ruin lives, this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/peeple?src=hash">#peeple</a> app is horrible AND scary <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/yelpforhumans?src=hash">#yelpforhumans</a>???
—@chrissyteigenThis is a real app. It needs not to be. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/peeple?src=hash">#peeple</a> <a href="http://t.co/QpeDnwhujp">pic.twitter.com/QpeDnwhujp</a>
—@chrissyteigenSome are amazed it was proposed in the first place.
Can anyone give me the number for the investors in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Peeple?src=hash">#Peeple</a> app? If they couldn't see the backlash coming, they'll invest in ANYTHING!
—@FuriousDShowThere's a glaring naivete among <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/peeple?src=hash">#peeple</a> founders on how the Internet works. Which is shocking, since they're supposed to be crackerjacks.
—@Lib_LibrarianOthers think it's hilarious.
I personally don't care about this weird <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Peeple?src=hash">#Peeple</a> app, but I'm a solid 3.5 star person.
—@mbottiOne-eyed, one-horned, flying, purple, people grader. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Peeple?src=hash">#Peeple</a>
—@PoG_ChrisNo one shall dare cross me again, lest they feel the stinging wrath of my passive-aggressive <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Peeple?src=hash">#Peeple</a> review!
—@coolderikSome think it might be a hoax.
If <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Peeple?src=hash">#Peeple</a> is not an extremely elaborate hoax, the first person I'm 'rating' is the nutcase that created it.
—@SmokersDrinkersHm. April 1st. The optimist in me hopes this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Peeple?src=hash">#Peeple</a> thing is just an elaborate Black Mirror-esque prank. <a href="http://t.co/YFSoDb0ZyP">pic.twitter.com/YFSoDb0ZyP</a>
—@joshscherrAnd it's got some wondering if it's even legal.
Peeple works via people sharing mobile number of a third party with a business without consent. Illegal under data protection? <a href="https://twitter.com/ICOnews">@ICOnews</a>
—@jarowdowskyThe creeps at <a href="https://twitter.com/peepleforpeople">@peepleforpeople</a> will allow people to create a profile *for* you that u cant remove. Surely not legal? <a href="http://t.co/N58QdU4aYd">pic.twitter.com/N58QdU4aYd</a>
—@derridaliciousPeeple is responding to some of the criticism.
Yo <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Peeple?src=hash">#Peeple</a>, telling survivors that they don't know that people are "genuinely good" is gross. <a href="https://t.co/0QMdKavBIj">https://t.co/0QMdKavBIj</a> <a href="http://t.co/6QchKcmB04">pic.twitter.com/6QchKcmB04</a>
—@brosandproseBut it doesn't seem to be doing much good.
The outrage about <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Peeple?src=hash">#Peeple</a> is amazing and glorious!!.
—@akishjrDear <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Peeple?src=hash">#Peeple</a>: We're not scared because we don't understand you and what you're trying to do, we're scared because we DO.
—@mightybattlecatIt's rare that the internet presents a united front against something, but it appears that Peeple app has pulled it off.
—@BigMaki