Peeple app is risky business

By Alana Roche |Staff Writer|

A new, controversial app called “Peeple” is coming out, allowing you to “rate” another person based on their personality on a scale of one to five stars.

I think Peeple is risky. It’s an unfair app and can cause detriment to a person’s reputation.

The app is being called the “Yelp for people” because of its similarities. Instead of rating restaurants or stores, you rate people like friends, family or acquaintances.

“This could definitely make or break someone, and if your ratings don’t do you justice, how will you succeed? You won’t, because an app said you were rated poorly,” said student Adriana Contreras.

Peeple has been so controversial that many online are saying that it has to be fake.

“The question I received the most is ‘This must be a hoax. You’re not seriously going to create this are you?’ The answer is: It’s real but not in the way it’s currently being portrayed,” stated Co-Founder Julia Cordray on LinkedIn.

I think that Cordray is being extremely optimistic on how her app will work, because she has to. She needs to do as much damage control as she can to get people to not give up on this app.

So far, it has received a reputation for being a bad idea.

The reality is that Peeple is trying to make it more difficult to post negative things on their site.

According to vox.com, Peeple said it will do so “by positive reviews of another person — those rated three or more stars on a five-star scale — will be posted immediately, but negative reviews will be held until the subject has time to review them. If someone refuses to register for the site, those negative reviews will be kept private indefinitely.”

I do think that this is a good idea to stop the negative comments, however, I think there are ways around it.

You can give someone a five star rating and still be allowed to write a negative comment.

Some people have reacted negatively, believing that this app will be an invasion of privacy, as well as just a place where you can bash people.

I agree with most online commentators posting about the app because they know of the society we live in where cyber bullying is becoming more and more popular.

In a perfect world we wouldn’t have to worry about potential online bashing like this, but unfortunately cyber bullying is becoming common and I think Peeple could possibly contribute to that.

“Nearly 75 percent of American adults have witnessed online harassment, with 40 percent of that being cyberbullying,” according to Pew Research Center.

“You must also affirm that you ‘know’ the person in one of three categories: personal, professional or romantic. To add someone to the database who has not been reviewed before, you must have that person’s cellphone number,” according to the Washington Post.

Cordray continues defending her app, telling the Washington Post, “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?”

“I will not be a user of Peeple. I don’t like the idea,” said student Angelica Valle.

I strongly believe in meeting someone and allowing them to have a chance to give you a first impression, not go off what you see on an app like Peeple.

I also understand that the intent is not to be negative and there will be restrictions to negative comments, but then what would be the point of using this app?

I do not believe that this app is a smart business move because of the negative media it has received.

When I went onto Peeple’s website, on Oct. 4, it was deactivated.

I believe that since most of the media has been negative it seems obvious that Peeple wants to resolve their reputation.

Since then the website is now back up, stating, “join the positive resolution,” with the date Oct. 12.

I, however, will not use this app. I believe that Peeple will not be used in the way it is intended by its creators and bring more negativity than positive.