The Internets are roaring this morning over the new Peeple app, basically Yelp for people, and most are not happy about the concept of being rated like a restaurant, car service or hotel.
Peeple will allow users to rate others — professionally, personally and romantically — on their character. It’s currently the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter.
As the Washington Post reports, it’s the brainchild of two women, Julia Cordray and Nicole McCullough. Users will be able to rate others on a scale of one to five.
It’s open season for anyone over 21 with a Facebook account who uses their real name. Anyone who knows your cell phone number can enter you into the database and rate you.
You can’t delete a bad review about yourself if you’re on the site (users who haven’t registered for Peeple can only have positive reviews showing), but you can report anything you “deem inaccurate,” according to WaPo.
“People do so much research when they buy a car or make those kinds of decisions,” said Peeple co-founder Cordray told WaPo. “Why not do the same kind of research on other aspects of your life?”
Peeple’s cofounders say that positive reviews will launch immediately, with negative reviews under a 48-hour scrutiny period before posting. And there is a ban on profane language, degrading comments, abuse, sexual and legal references, racism and hate speech, according to the BBC.
Currently in beta testing with about 5,000 users, and 100 added daily, it will launch on iOS in late November. WaPo reports its currently valued at $7.6 million.
Despite the uproar, they are already receiving tremendous feedback after the article, prompting the co-founders to post to Facebook about queries to join: “You can sign up by clicking the ‘sign up’ button above on our Facebook page…We can clearly see how passionate you are about having the opportunity to participate in our app or not participate in it.”
The idea that we will all be under constant scrutiny by everyone in our lives is pretty stressful, and that having an “off-day” could seriously impact future success. Critics are saying it’s rife to becoming a breeding ground for trolls, shaming and bullying, despite the idea that it will be a place for positivity.
And as the BBC points out, it could also be the springboard for an avalanche of lawsuits.
Watch a Peeple video from YouTube below:
