Seemingly taking cues from Facebook’s fledgling beginnings—Zuckerberg’s Facemash, a rating system for Harvard students—an app that can be summed up as “Yelp for humans” was never going to be welcomed with open arms.
Peeple, the app claiming to fill a gap that nobody asked to be filled (its slogan: “Character Is Destiny“), will soon arrive on the scene – allowing users to review people peeple the same way they would restaurants, with a star rating that can’t be erased.
Once someone decides to rate you on the app, you’re there. A light-hearted Review with Myles Barlow for your m8s, this is not.
Peeple pitches their Burn Book, launching in November, like so:
“Why is there nothing that provides reviews, ratings and commentary on aspects that truly matter to us?”
“Looking at everyone in the three ways you could possibly know someone – personally, professionally and romantically – you can provide a rating and review on everyone you come in contact with, while allowing yourself to be reviewed.”
Ratings work based on a single-degree-of-separation dealio: if you’re friends with someone on Facebook, or have their mobile number, you can start rating them – you don’t even have to have downloaded the app, and a lil portfolio of feedback just sits there, clocking up Peeple’s estimated worth—before even launching—of over $7 million.
With Peeple releasing a hasty statement online, setting their Twitter to private and deleting comments on their Facebook posts – the reaction online hasn’t been great.
This #Peeple thing HAS to be some sort of grotesque performance art troll. Has to be.
— Sarah Brown (@auntysarah) October 1, 2015
I’m sure the Peeple CEO will better understand criticism of her app once everyone can post their personal feelings about her in one spot
— Freaky Justice (@rebeccawatson) October 1, 2015
Color me shocked two blond-haired, conventionally pretty, well-off white women can’t conceptualize of why a “Yelp for #peeple” is a bad idea
— I’m a general, whee! (@stopthatgirl7) October 1, 2015
Here’s my rating of the idea of Peeple, an app that rates people: ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
— Joseph Scrimshaw (@JosephScrimshaw) October 1, 2015
The #Peeple people are deleting negative comments on their Facebook posts. If only irony was a precious metal. I give this app 12 hours.
— Alanna Coca (@AlannaCoca) October 1, 2015
Lol, don’t worry, #Peeple got your back. If someone says something wack about u, you get to argue with them about it! pic.twitter.com/SAqWMUOc1y
— Andy Pickering (@AndyPickeringNZ) October 1, 2015
You cannot opt out of the #Peeple app. Even if you never join, IT TEXTS YOU. Abuse, straight to your phone.
— Ana Mardoll (@AnaMardoll) September 30, 2015
*Googles Peeple* pic.twitter.com/oWlqTC0Tuf
— Lauren (@stuckinspincycl) September 30, 2015
Shout out to the two co-founders of #Peeple for loving us “enough to give you this gift” pic.twitter.com/1VV3g2SNNA
— Luscious Cochon (@HouleyWouley) September 30, 2015
Let’s ask the creators of Peeple to defend their new app oh wait… http://t.co/3rdXdWwvvc pic.twitter.com/jfO1JhHcol
— Allan Brauer (@allanbrauer) September 30, 2015
“If we have it for restaurants, why dont we have it for people?” because restaurants dont kill themselves?? #peeple http://t.co/rce7W3xRba
— Parker Roberts (@parkerroberts) September 30, 2015
Dear whoever gave Peeple five million dollars
Mean Girls on dvd is like five dollars & would’ve already taught you that this is a bad idea.
— Andrew Ferguson (@warandpeace) September 30, 2015
I’m going to say the obvious: give Peeple no legitimacy. None. Don’t register. Don’t look people up. Give it nothing and ask nothing of it.
— Alexandra Erin (@alexandraerin) September 30, 2015
Great all I need is your phone number to destroy your life. Good to know. #peeple pic.twitter.com/qUx0vRjMn3
— Michaela (@ohyahme) September 30, 2015
Predatory data brokers like #Peeple should not be legal. Period.
— TheCampaignWhisperer (@SFtheWolf) September 30, 2015
If #Peeple happens, we must leave tons of sarcastic, garbage reviews of each other, rendering it useless. WE CAN DO THIS. ONE STAR FOR ALL.
— Peter Krupa (@peterkrupa) September 30, 2015
Hold on, Peeple is a real thing someone is making and not a “yeah this sure would be a terrible idea wouldn’t it guys”?
— Chiffon (@trhvmn) October 1, 2015
Despite Peeple blatantly providing users a platform for permanent cyber bullying to thrive—whether that was their intention or not—Peeple’s founders have attempted to polish a turd/defended their vision as a “positivity app” on their website in a new statement, since the Washington Post’s article on the app spread wildly in the past 24 hours.
“We are a positivity app launching in November 2015. Whether you love us or our concept or not; we still welcome everyone to explore this online village of love and abundance for all.”
Nah mate.
Witness humanity failing us over here.
via The Washington Post.
