Influence of Social Media on "Peeple"

 Martin Borys

Influence of Social Media on “Peeple”

There is a new app called Peeple, which is basically like a yelp for people. This app, that has yet to be released already has everyone worried. This app allows someone to review and rate anyone they know whether it be work related, family, friends, exes, enemies, anyone. At first thought it is presumed this app will be a major negative for most people's self esteem, being reviewed out of five stars. After the news of this new app was released to the media anyone that heard about it immediately panicked about being reviewed and feared what might be said about them. There have been many critics that have feared that the app would turn into a place for shaming and humiliating people publicly for all the world to see. 

The Peeple app has had so much backlash even before being released. According to the creators, the purpose of this app is to promote positivity.  Ironically enough, thus far it has caused anything but. “All online presence of Peeple app was removed after it was widely mocked and heavily criticized. At the time, the app’s future seemed uncertain” (Farivar). There is so much hate and negativity being thrown at something that is supposed to promote the opposite. Obviously there is something wrong already with this app if this is what happens before it is even released.

Peeple co-founder, Julia Cordray, has received a lot of heat since the initial interview with the Washington Post where the concept of the app was released. “"Since the interview with The Washington Post, I've received death threats and extremely insulting comments aimed at me, my investors, and my family on almost every social media tool possible," she wrote. "I hope now if nothing else by watching me you can clearly see why the world needs more love and positivity". (Reynolds)”. People really went too far to show their distaste for this new app. Wouldn’t reviews and critiques of this app be enough, but some people believe death threats to the co-founder’s family is justified.

After all of these critiques and threats the developers and founders of the Peeple app realized that if no one is promoting this positivity app before its released then something needs to change. Social media made such a big deal and put up such a big fight that the developers have made the decision to revamp the app. The new changes are that there is no waiting period for getting rid of negative comments and no one can be added to the app’s platform without their own permission. Developers claim this app is for positivity only and that it will not promote any negativity. (Peeple's App).

There was so much negativity geared towards this app and so many critics that put down the purpose of this app it caused the developers to revamp it before its initial release. That is a big influence from social media to make an app change before its even released. The initial Peeple app will never be seen but instead an influenced version aimed more to please the public. Hopefully once Peeple is officially released to the Appstore people will be happy with the positivity of it and don’t focus on the negativity it has caused.

It is interesting how such a trivial app with the purpose to promote positivity and happiness can cause so much distaste and negativity. It is also interesting that all this negativity and hate can have such an influence to make the developers make changes to their original design of the app. 

Personally after reviewing this app and learning more about it I believe that the founders and developers of this app have a good idea to promote positivity and happiness. But it is being taken in a whole different direction by everyone on social media. They assume it will be taken negatively and by jumping to conclusions they influence it to have such a negative view. From all of the negativity it will most likely cause this app to fail.

Works Cited

Farivar, Cyrus. "Peeple, the Unreleased App the Internet Loves to Hate, Pushes Forward." Accessed October 13, 2015.

"Peeple's App Has Pivoted and Is Now Completely Pointless." TNW Network All Stories RSS. October 5, 2015. Accessed October 14, 2015.

Reynolds, Emily. "Peeple App Taken down after Online Backlash (Wired UK)." Wired UK. Accessed October 14, 2015.