A new controversial app set to launch in November, called Peeple, is being described as Yelp for humans because it will allow users to ratings to people they know on a scale of 1 to 5, according to The Washington Post.
"We feel this is the ultimate social experiment. Let's look at everyone in the three ways you could possibly know someone – personally, professionally and romantically – and let the world rate them, while allowing yourself to be rated," said Julia Cordray, one of the app's founders, according to the Calgary Herald.
Some have scoffed at the idea since the app reportedly makes it impossible to opt out once your name has been entered into the Peeple system. There's apparently no way to delete published reviews, regardless of how horrible or biased they may be. Although the app will allow people to dispute reviews, it's still not clear how the dispute process will work.
In order to add someone to the database (who has never been reviewed), users must use the person's phone number – but that's about it becuase the person's consent is not required, reports the Evening Standard. To review someone, you must be over the age of 21, have an established Facebook account, and post the review under your real name.
Positive reviews will post automatically, while negative ones will be stored in a private inbox for 48 hours to allow time for disputes. If you're not registered with Peeple, you can't contest negative ratings and therefore your profile will only show the positive ones.
Peeple will also prohibit posts containing profanity, sexist comments or anything concerning someone's personal health, according to The Week.
"People do so much research when they buy a car or make those kinds of decisions. Why not do the same kind of research on other aspects of your life?" Cordray told the Post. "As two empathetic, female entrepreneurs in the tech space, we want to spread love and positivity. We want to operate with thoughtfulness."
The Internet is already ablaze with critics deriding the app:
peeple? more like creeple, am i right?????
— tobi hahn (@rainshapes) 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
peeple is evidence that with no access to mainstream funding, a small team can still build something that's incredibly dangerous and awful
— OrCAD Pumpkin Spice (@vogon) September 30, 2015
if anybody reviews you on peeple can you give them a 1-star review that says "reviews people on peeple"
— GeekyLyndsay (@GeekyLyndsay) September 30, 2015
