Down Periscope!

I’ve been taking a look at a new idea to ‘broadcast yourself online’.  Periscope is a mobile app which you can use to broadcast live to your ‘followers’ – other users of Periscope. It has been produced by Twitter, the well established social media application which has millions of users worldwide.

The idea behind Periscope is not new.  There are similar programs available, but its design for mobiles and its link with Twitter will mean that it has a huge potential user base.

Periscope is simple to use.  You download the app, login via your Twitter account and agree to follow the users they suggest.  You can choose your own user name. then just press a button you are live to the world!

I trialled Periscope for a couple of weeks and, overall, it worries me.

Firstly Periscope is very addictive.  It is a window into other people’s lives, as they show where they are and what they are doing – all live.  There are a wide variety of users.  Many are media people anxious to show you “behind the scenes” at some TV studio. You see people out for a meal, on a walk with the dog, driving in the car, watching the TV, lazing by the pool.  Broadcasters often switch between views of themselves and views of what they are witnessing.   All live and in real time.  It is so tempting to go back again and again and see more.

The idea is that you watch the broadcast, and can click the screen which causes “hearts” to appear, indicating you “like” what you see.  You can also make comments and ask questions in writing,  and the broadcaster can reply straight away, by speaking to you.

Some people seem to use Periscope for very useful purposes.  One guy seems to do regular broadcasts about how Periscope can help build your business, how to get the best from it, and so on. And there is the chance to get behind the scenes at major events, for example.  But Periscope has a dark side.  There are a lot of people who say they are just bored and want to talk.  They invite questions.  There will be viewers who don’t have the broadcasters’ best interests in mind.  Many comments are suggestive or rude. I believe there is a lower age limit of 13, so you will often see young girls just playing with Periscope, laughing and chatting to viewers,  but opening themselves to very inappropriate comments and questions.  I came across one girl who appeared to be very sad – almost on the verge of tears, and you feel you are being allowed to intrude, real time, into a very personal part of someone’s life.  There is a strong voyeuristic element to Periscope which I found disturbing.

I did not come across any pornographic content, but Periscope seems to be very vulnerable to that sort of abuse.

I have decided Periscope is not for me, and have closed my account and deleted the app. Like so much on the web, it can be used for good and noble purposes, but the risk of abuse in my view, is very high indeed.  We can do without Periscope in the world.

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Tags: abuse, android, app, broadcast, children, periscope, twitter