App sending ‘Someone complimented you’ message causes confusion
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – – A mobile app intended to bring people together in real life has created a firestorm of controversy and fear.
The app IRL or In Real Life encourages its users to send anonymous text messages to their contacts.
Facebook posts about these text messages have been shared 25,000 times which claims the messages are from a sex trafficking ring and that anyone who clicks the attached link will have their phone tracked. It also claims that girls are disappearing because of that link.
The text messages read “Someone has complimented you. See More,” and includes links to the app in Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store. There is no evidence that any of these text messages do anything that causes harm.
Here’s what this app is all about: IRL is popular among older teens and people in their 20s. Users are encouraged to invite their friends (contacts) to dinner, or movies, or hiking trips. If you invite someone on an outing that person will receive an “invite” but they must download the app to see what the invite is all about.
Another feature of the IRL app encourages users to nominate someone for silly titles.
After WKRN Tech guru Jamey Tucker downloaded the app, he was asked to nominate one of his friends – IRL calls them noms – for something like “who can make the best brunch,” or “dunk like Lebron,” or “is the best cheerleader.”
Since Jamey gave the app permission to see his contacts, four of them showed up on the screen as answers to the question. If he were to tap one of their names, the app would send the ‘nom’ over a text message to their phone.
The friend can’t see who sent it, only that someone had recommended them.
If, like Jamey, you have thousands of people and phone numbers in your contacts list this app has access to every person’s name and phone number.
The app’s FAQ claims no one will get a text message from a stranger, only from people who have their contact information on their phone.
We applaud IRL for encouraging people to get off their phones and do something in real
life, but Jamey Tucker says this method is crazy. People hate being bothered with text messages, especially anonymous messages that include links.
After using the app for a few minutes for this story, Jamey deleted it but whether the app still has access to his contacts is another thing. You just don’t know.
If you do receive one of these messages and you want nothing to do with the app, you
should reply to the text with the word “Stop”.
The company states those who opt out this way will no longer receive a text message no matter how many times they are “nominated.”
IRL is a nuisance to many people but there is no evidence that its part of a sex trafficking ring or that anyone has disappeared after clicking the link.