Mirror, Mirror…
Peg Goter – Editor
Here’s a story I first heard about on NBC 10 evening news… I originally included more links to associated websites, but because most of these related sources contain uncensored profanities, I decided to skip those links. Adults may search the internet themselves if interested…
There’s an app created by a couple of guys working as Dapper GentlemenTM, (Note… these guys do not refrain from swearing on their website…) which is designed to evaluate a picture of your face and rate your beauty. The app is called the Ugly Meter. I don’t offer this story as a suggestion that any of us should actually try this app, let alone pay money for it… but I found the concept interesting, as I have read that scientific studies have shown that symmetrical faces are generally chosen as being more attractive than others.
So I took a look at the app, and read some of the comments from folks who
had tried it. I also checked out the developers’ website, and they described it like this:
“The Ugly Meter takes your picture and then rates you on a scale of 0 – 10. 10 being the ugliest, 0 being very sexy indeed. Ugly Meter Pro verifies over 100 points on your face and gives you a rating from 0 – 100. 100 being a greek god / goddess and 0 being a ronnie.”
The ad for this app claims that they now have over 6 million users, with over 24 million faces scanned. The developers are laughing all the way to the bank because this little program they wrote as a joke has become a top-selling sensation. The trick? Media Frenzy! Apparently helped most by Howard Stern, the story was picked up by several mainstream news outlets, making big bucks for the developers. For your info, “Ronnie” is a limo driver who got pulled into the frenzy after his face was rated a zero. The ad for Ugly Meter Pro shows a demonstration picture of Brad Pitt, who apparently rates 94/100. On the other hand, one commentor said that a picture of his kitchen chair was rated fairly highly, too.
Dan Jaenig made a joke during his broadcast…He said he had tried the app, and said, ”I must be ugly!” He then held up his iPhone showing a broken/cracked screen… (created by a different app). Funny guy.
So I’ll let you decide for yourself whether this app is appalling, or just a hoot. The developers have created other apps, as well… but this is the one which likely put them on the map, and they sarcastically thank all of the major media outlets on their website. From the internet which brought you “Artisan Pencil Sharpening” and the society which brought you Pet Rocks and Big Mouth Billy Bass (the singing fish)… we now have The Ugly Meter.
Cheers!