Throbbing Hive with John Moe: Connectivity and Cruelty
October 06, 2015
Every Tuesday at 7:30 a.m., John Moe stops into the Morning Show to share the latest news in Technology.
This week, John Moe stopped by The Current's Morning Show to talk to Jill Riley and Sean McPherson about about Facebook's plans to bring Internet connectivity to sub-Saharan Africa. John also describes a new app that allows people to write "reviews" of other human beings: "Satan is on his motorcycle and he is riding into your phone," John says. "We're all done for."
Facebook is working to bring Internet access to Africa
Facebook is launching a new effort, expected to be in place in the second half of 2016, to bring Internet connectivity to sub-Saharan Africa. "[The people at Facebook are] trying to get people online who, because of technological challenges and development challenges, can't really get to the Internet as much," John says. "I suppose if they can get online, then they can use Facebook.
John says the effort can be interpreted in different ways: 1) Facebook wants more people on the Internet so those people can become Facebook users who view the site's advertisements; 2) Facebook needs some positive PR after accusations that it is far too nosy into people's lives; or 3) Facebook has a lot of money and using some of it to connect Africa to the Internet is a good thing for humanity.
"I'm not saying which of those you need to choose," John says, "but check your cynicism and your hopefulness levels, and arrive at one on your own."
Peeple is like Yelp for people
"The worst thing in the world is happening," John says. "There's going to be a Yelp-like service for humans."
Much like Yelp allows Internet users to review a product or service, Peeple allows users to review human beings: give them ratings, write "reviews" about them — and there's no opt-out feature. "So if somebody wants to start writing about you," John says, "there's nothing you can do about it."
Peeple does promise some in-built accountability: Users who contribute reviews must use their own real names (or at least the names they use on Facebook), and while positive reviews are posted immediately, negative reviews sit in queue for 48 hours, giving the writer time to reconsider his or her submission.
That said, John doesn't think Peeple bodes well for anyone. "We're all victims of the Internet and spite," he says. "This is basically the comments section turned into an app, and it is about everybody and not just well-known people. I hate to bring you this terrible news, but everything is about to get so much worse in the world.
"Satan is on his motorcycle and he is riding into your phone," John continues. "We're all done for."
John Moe is the host of Wits and he also co-hosts the podcast Conversation Parade (with Open Mike Eagle) from Infinite Guest.