‘Peeple’ app allows users to rate other human beings

What is perhaps most worrying about the launch of the Peeple app is that this is not just an independent app developer working on a project and gaining a few publicity, but rather one that has created a company worth an estimated US$7.6m based off funding raised from VC firms.

As anyone can imagine, the Internet is in a current state of uproar over the idea of such an app existing, as many believe it will lead to bullying and harassment. “Why not do the same kind of research on other aspects of your life?”

Julia Cordray is the co-founder and CEO of the controversial Peeple app, which has been called “Yelp for humans”. Until someone with a bit of money sues Peeple, you suspect.

How many people have you angered, upset, or hurt in the past?

But someone out there, it seems, never reached the dismissing stage and is in fact about the launch an app where people are reviewed like restaurants.

If you don’t like the Peeple app and you don’t want people rating you on it, you might think that you could simply not install it or not join the service. And if you get a two- or one-star review, you get a 48-hour grace period to work out an issue with the reviewer.

If you do, you would be wrong. That’s because users must sign up with a Facebook account that is at least 6 months old and a cell phone number. They say the app lets users “really see how you show up in this world as seen through the eyes of your network”. “All the people of questionable character could hide from the app and then what’s the point?” she said.

The app is being described as the Yelp for people and it offers the chance to give a 1 to 5-star rating in professional, personal and dating categories.

Imagine all the people who piss you off and vice versa.

Peeple will be launching mid to late November, starting in San Francisco and Calgary. Even though they will be notified via a text message, they won’t be able to remove the profile from Peeple. There is no mention of an iPhone Peeple release date. And finally, what if you don’t want unsolicited opinions?

If you are not registered, Peeple users will only be able to view positive feedback about you, although the negative will be stored for potential later use. “We all deserve to know who the best of the best are”, she said, noting that there are “integrity features” to keep users accountable.