Rating people controversy & a start up ahead of the game

Global Business

‘Googling’ or checking social media to learn about the person you’re about to meet is a common practice. But how about looking up ratings for someone, whether for professional or romantic reasons?

That’s the idea behind the app ‘Peeple,’ which has created a social media firestorm.

CCTV America’s Mark Niu reports from San Francisco.


The co-founder of the app ‘Peeple’ calls it the “Yelp for Humans”, a place where users could review anyone: an ex-girlfriend, a co-worker or a neighbor, on a five-star rating system.

But, social media wasn’t nearly so kind, as the founders were bullied and received death threats, leading to their own social media blackout, though co-founder Julia Cordray made an exception for the U.S. TV show ‘Dr. Phil.’

Peeple marched forward, launching this month, with Cordray insisting this was not a publicity stunt.

Gone are the five star ratings; instead your Peeple number is based solely on how many recommendations you get. Users have to approve those recommendations before they can go public.


Social media expert Tom Keenan on Peeple App
To find out how this app is shaking up the current tech and social scene, CCTV America’s Michelle Makori spoke to Tom Keenan, the author of the best selling book “Technocreep.”