Controversial Peeple rating app launches Monday

[Peeple co-founder Julia Cordray of Calgary/Business Insider]

A controversial app that was nicknamed by its Canadian co-founder the “Yelp for people” will launch Monday, six months after a flood of criticism forced her and her partner to re-examine their approach.

When it was first announced last year, Peeple was interpreted as a rating app for people, which many including U.S. talk show host Dr. Phil felt would encourage bullying. What followed was a “global viral media storm,” according to Calgary-based co-founder Julia Cordray.

“There were four main concerns that the users wanted us to address,” she tells Yahoo Canada News. “We felt we gave the people what they wanted.”

The changes include not being able to add other people on the app, the ability to delete your account, having control over what comments go live on your profile and swapping a five-star rating system for the total number of recommendations you’ve received in the categories of professional, personal and romantic.

The idea for Peeple was born after co-founder Nicole McCullough had a hard time finding caregivers who came with good recommendations.

“She just wanted a place where you could look people up and find the truth about them or write nice things when you look them up,” Cordray says.

When the concept was first announced last September, the Internet slammed the idea for having questionable intentions.

“We were called a bullying app and the app was misrepresented,” she says. “There was a lot of misunderstanding. That was the wildest ride of my life.”

Cordray even appeared on Dr. Phil to elaborate on the changes that would be done to Peeple.

“That helped, it calmed them down and helped them understand,” she says. “There’s a lot more integrity and fail safes put into our app compared to other social media platforms and recommendation or review platforms.”

Still, not everyone is convinced.

“When character becomes currency, humanity suffers. We are not metrics, and you cannot ethically justify ranking humans against normative social ideals. We are #PeopleNotPeeple,” wrote Facebook user Harry Dyer on the app’s Facebook page.

“You people are sick, twisted monsters for making this application,” added Khris Stradlater. “People like you are the reason why we won’t be able to progress as a species.”

“Just. Don’t. Find another source of income please!” wrote Ruzanna Maranjyan. “You have no idea how many fake accounts are going to be created! How are you going to stop fake accounts?”

Twitter reaction was no different.

“Lmao the Peeple app is riddled with so many UX hurdles. They reallllly want to launch and still look like nice folks,” tweeted Rosie Pringle.

“I would have headlined this: “Peeple making Peeple don’t take the hint, decide to still release terrible app,” posted BrittneyVerified.

The app will be available on iTunes on Monday, with a version being readied for Android in the near future.