Peeple shuts down social media accounts after internet outrage over human-rating app
Danielle Nerman | CBC News | Posted: October 6, 2015 2:25 PM | Last Updated: October 6, 2015
Parody Sheeple website appears as Peeple disappears from social media
It seems the people don't like Peeple.
The Calgary woman behind the controversial human-rating app has taken down the Peeple Facebook and Twitter accounts — for now.
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CBC News tried contacting Peeple founder and CEO Julia Cordray several times, but she has not responded.
The app, which allows users to rate people as they would rate a restaurant, was scheduled for a November release. But it appears Cordray will be launching it on Oct. 12.
The launch date is the only piece of information left on the Peeple website as of Tuesday. It's been scrubbed clean of all content and was temporarily shut down from Sunday night until Tuesday morning.
In an Oct. 4 post on LinkedIn, Cordray said she had received "death threats and extremely insulting comments aimed at me, my investors, and my family on almost every social media tool possible" since she started getting press about Peeple.
"I went from a relatively unknown 34-year-old entrepreneur from Canada to unintentionally becoming a trending topic on Facebook and Twitter in less than 24 hours. I wish I could say it was for something positive, but it wasn't."
Despite growing backlash, Cordray still plans to launch Peeple.
Just differently.
Her LinkedIn post says the app is being redeveloped with an opt-in system — which was not the case initially.
"You will NOT be on our platform without your explicit permission. There is no 48-hour waiting period to remove negative comments. There is no way to even make negative comments. Simply stated, if you don't explicitly say 'approve recommendation,' it will not be visible on our platform," Cordray wrote.
"I want the world to be positive and this is how I'm going to inspire it by creating the world's largest positivity app."
In the meantime, the world has Sheeple — a parody website that imagines how the Peeple app would look had it been invented for sheep.
According to the site, "Sheeple lets you find other sheep and rate their worth, the quality of their wool and the cleanliness of their hooves, as well as other sheeply qualities."
And like Peeple, Sheeple promises not to be a breeding ground for hateful comments or bullying.
"Rather than leaving negative reviews of other sheep, we encourage positivity, but have no real way to ensure this."
- Listen to the Calgary Eyeopener's comedic take on the Sheeple website