TRUST your neighborhood

Communicating via social platforms has become a norm we can’t seem to do without. While the comfort level with use of a platform itself might be high, we are all very concerned with security of the data we share, and also the authenticity of unfamiliar users we interact with, especially those related to transactional services.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could speak to others in the locality without letting our guard down completely? E.g. Do we have to provide our phone numbers every time we purchase something at a store? The store might want to share information on offers, or we might want to view these periodically without having to provide our contact details. Or how can we access products/services from great local entrepreneurs when they might not want to openly provide their contact details to everyone in the neighbourhood?

Secondly, how do we trust those we interact with- either for commercial purposes, or simply as neighbours? E.g. We often interact on a social platforms and have come across contacts there we don’t know anything about. Or we may want a good local electrician and have no way of knowing whether the services or the provider has good feedback.

There is no system to rate local service providers, or local business owners, or even users as individual consumers. There is also no way to objectively report issues or flag content/products/services in the daily social platforms we access.

Ripple now has a solution for both these problems.

(1) Trust: This is addressed as follows:

• Users can 'rate' a post for the benefit of others in the locality, by clicking on the Ripple icon. Individual post's rating add up to provide a 'profile rating' for the user. Profile details can be seen by clicking on the 'profile rating'. Profile details include the overall users feedback on a users posts and conversations. The stats also show number of followers and users that are blocking that person.

• Users rate both posts and conversations so that feedback gives the individual posting, a rating which remains available on the app interface.

• Users can follow people or services with whom they have had pleasant and beneficial interactions with. This enables others in the locality to have a higher level of trust and reassurance because the neighbourhood places their trust in that person or service.
  

• When an earlier post is reposted from 'My Posts', it retains its previous rating. The post rating over time gives users reassurance of the quality.

• Custom tags (eg: mood4food) are managed by a groups of members that can post with that tag. The feedback (ratings) on individual member's posts with the custom tag add to the overall rating of the tag. This will give users reassurance and trust in a brand based on the rating.
  

• In case of issues, users can report the issue to admins of the custom tags to step in and find a resolution.

(2) Safety: This is addressed as follows:

• You don’t need to share your phone number or personal details with others, in order to really be an integral part of your neighborhood with access to everything it has to offer.

• You can follow or block others depending on your personal interactions with them.

• You can view ratings linked to group owners/admin or services/products before you decide to interact with them. Feedback given by others is invaluable in enabling a safe interaction.
  

• At a broader level as a locality, one can engage with the local police agencies and social service groups (assuming they are users of Ripple) to flag issues or even view trends relating to safety in the neighborhood. A lay person reaching out for help will only be connected with certified members of those groups in the locality. Each post clearly indicates if the author of the post is a certified member of the tag/group or not. Knowing that you are talking to a certified member of a trusted tag/group will reassure the user that the interaction is safe and trustworthy. At the same time anyone can reach out for assistance from these trusted groups.

By using Ripple, you are now able to directly contribute towards making your neighborhood more transparent in terms of safety and trust, while safeguarding your own privacy. No longer do you have to be wary about moving to a new neighborhood with features like this available at your finger tips. Neighborhoods and communities can better engage and thrive when a system of trust and safety is built in to the social apps we use in our daily lives.

The app is only effective when the user base is large. So download Ripple today and lets start this journey together!