Is the New Sketch Factor App Racist?

Crain’s New York Business recently reported the launch of a new app called “Sketch Factor.” The app takes user experiences and combines them with public data to rate the “sketchiness” of certain neighborhoods by numbers ratings.

For those not in the know, Urban Dictionary defines the term ”sketch factor” as: “A quantitative statement of the sketchiness of an individual, typically measured from 1 to 10.”

According to the Sketch Factor website, the purpose of the app is to “avoid sketchy situations.” Here’s how it works:

“People share what’s going on in their community. It’s kind of like your best friend telling you where to go (cool, weird sculpture) and where to avoid (empty parking lot). A SketchFactor: 1 might be kind of quirky, a SketchFactor: 5 could be dangerous. We take these experiences, add it to city data, and give you directions to where you need to go.”

“Sometimes you ask yourself why everything seems sketchy. Why is there a pile of dead rats on the street? Why are there no lights on this block? Where did everyone go?”

The app was created by Allison McGuire and Daniel Herrington, who are both Caucasian.

McGuire, a Los Angeles native, now lives in the West Village. She said she came up with the idea of Sketch Factor after her experience navigating the streets of Washington, D.C., where she used to work. She then met, and presented the idea to her partner, Dan Herrington.

McGuire told Cain’s, “Even though Dan and I are admittedly both young, white people, the app is not built for us as young, white people. As far as we’re concerned, racial profiling is ‘sketchy’ and we are trying to empower users to report incidents of racism against them and define their own experience of the streets.”

Since its launch on iTunes last Friday, SketchFactor has received a barrage of criticism on Twitter:

@sumofus Tweeted: “SketchFactor is promoting racism, classism, and paranoia between people from different backgrounds.”

@thearani Tweeted: “Tell @AppStore and @GooglePlay to stop selling the racist app #SketchFactor”

@josh_kohn Tweeted: “Whoa! an app for those ignorant of other communities. Use it proudly America!”

And online, CityLab said of the app: “Another day, another tone-deaf neighborhood innovation. Let’s call them poortals: apps designed to help the privileged avoid the poor.”

ValleyWag asked: “Is there any way to keep white people from using computers, before this whole planet is ruined?”

What do you think of the new app? Tell us in the comments.

Photo: Sketch Factor Facebook