This one has absolutely no chance of going wrong, considering developers are promoting a questionable ‘Peeple’ app that allows you to rate people, because this is where technology has apparently led us.
- Peeple has been described as “Yelp for people”
- Users will rate each other on a 1-5 star ranking
- The app has already been met with bad initial reviews
- It’s set to launch in November
Just because the intent behind the idea is good, it does not mean that it will be used as such. According to the two app developers, Julia Cordray and Nicole McCullough, they “want to spread love and positivity”. The app will essentially allow people around to rate you, as a person, from a scale to 1-5 stars and post reviews.
Because the internet is a fully accepting and supporting place, and not at all the home of complaints, incessant trolling and overall insensitive comments…
The problem with the app is rooted in the simple fact that opinions on restaurants, hotels, teachers, movies and what have you, are entirely subjective. The matter is just as biased when it comes to people. And, ordinarily, those who post reviews on the internet either really love something, or really, really hate it.
To transmit all of that and let it impact on a human beings is beyond dangerous, as it might bring ‘cyber bullying’ to a whole other level. The last thing people on the internet need is another outlet to pour their frustrations and anger in where it directly affects people. And not to mention the fact that it will be for everyone else to see.
Dubbed as “Yelp for people”, the app has been called by the developers as “the ultimate social experiment”, and will allow people to post comments on each person’s page. The app will instantly post positive ratings, but negative opinions will be placed in queue in order for users to dispute. This possibly an attempt at battling the initial issue of subjectivity.
Peeple will also ban certain sensitive topics and highly inappropriate comments that imply cursing, sexism and health conditions or handicaps.
However, this essentially turns your life into a public performance, where people rate what others do or say after running it through the filters of their own opinion. Perhaps it will indeed function as a “social experiment”, but it will also lead to arguments, fights, low self-esteem issues, and a worrying amount of cyber bullying.
This might just turn into an unfortunate outlet for former employees, ex partners, or even frustrated neighbors to vent and state their biased complaints.
The problem is also that wants someone else puts your name into the app, you’re there to stay, and you cannot take down your profile. Users will be required to post under their real names, so that might solve a part of the issue. But just part of it, because the rest will still be rooted in the flawed rating system that is already affecting teachers, doctors or restaurants.
Also, complaining about a dry salad will likely not hurt anyone’s feelings, but this might.
Image source: linkedin.com
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