Yelp adds alert to notify racist behavior on business reviews

[Boiler 43,577]

Could this be the end of Starbucks?

 

The consumer review platform Yelp has added a new feature that allows users to flag businesses accused of racism.

Noorie Malik, the company’s vice president of user operations, released a statement Thursday on the site’s blog detailing the new initiative. “At Yelp,” she said, “we value diversity, inclusion and belonging, both internally and on our platform, which means we have a zero-tolerance policy to racism.”

https://news.yahoo.com/yelp-adds-alert-notify-racist-142216993.html

[Dashinka 23,291]

This won't be used for nefarious means, not at all.

[Boiler 43,577]

Wonder if you can flag Yelp?

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

That's going to become a mess, I'm sure.  While I agree with the base premise behind the move, it is so open to abuse.

[laylalex 7,249]

59 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

That's going to become a mess, I'm sure.  While I agree with the base premise behind the move, it is so open to abuse.

I agree with you. Yelp itself is a complete poopshow -- so easy to manipulate. I barely use it at all except to check addresses and opening hours of businesses or look at a restaurant menu. 

[Dashinka 23,291]

13 minutes ago, laylalex said:

I agree with you. Yelp itself is a complete poopshow -- so easy to manipulate. I barely use it at all except to check addresses and opening hours of businesses or look at a restaurant menu. 

I cannot remember the last time I used Yelp for any reviews.  The system is so susceptible to abuse it is quite worthless in my opinion. 

[laylalex 7,249]

4 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

I cannot remember the last time I used Yelp for any reviews.  The system is so susceptible to abuse it is quite worthless in my opinion. 

I can't help but always think about this episode of South Park, which really skewered it:

 

https://southpark.cc.com/episodes/en0srq/south-park-you-re-not-yelping-season-19-ep-4

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

22 minutes ago, laylalex said:

I agree with you. Yelp itself is a complete poopshow -- so easy to manipulate. I barely use it at all except to check addresses and opening hours of businesses or look at a restaurant menu. 

Google maps is actually doing quite well with business hours, phone, reviews, etc.  Haven't used Yelp in a few years now.

[laylalex 7,249]

14 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

Google maps is actually doing quite well with business hours, phone, reviews, etc.  Haven't used Yelp in a few years now.

I agree -- I think the one area they can be off on is saying a business is closed permanently when it isn't. 

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

10 minutes ago, laylalex said:

I agree -- I think the one area they can be off on is saying a business is closed permanently when it isn't. 

I haven't seen that yet, but I have had the opposite, taking me to a business that has been closed but didn't reflect such.  Hard to keep up with, I suppose. (Though the last time it happened to me in NY, the restaurant in question had been closed for over six months, I later learned).

[laylalex 7,249]

I'm uncomfortable with us all agreeing. It feels like an itchy sweater I want to take off.

 

Can we please start picking at each other? It's a lot more comfortable. 

[Boiler 43,577]

 

[Dashinka 23,291]

Ok, looking for confirmation here.  I had heard that with Yelp one can get rid of negative reviews and labels if one buys advertising on their site.  Wondering if anyone knew more about this?

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

2 hours ago, laylalex said:

I'm uncomfortable with us all agreeing. It feels like an itchy sweater I want to take off.

 

Can we please start picking at each other? It's a lot more comfortable. 

You're right, as usual.  I mean, you must be used to that by now, being WOMAN.  Amirite?

[Burnt Reynolds 5,058]

4 hours ago, Dashinka said:

Ok, looking for confirmation here.  I had heard that with Yelp one can get rid of negative reviews and labels if one buys advertising on their site.  Wondering if anyone knew more about this?

Sounds like the typical BBB extortion model, and I wouldn't be surprised if they were doing this. But because business like this are significantly perception-driven, doing this effectively annihilates their brand. Their loss is someone else's gain.