Are you worth it? Elitist facebook rival launched
Students will have be vetted by their peers in order to access the site
A controversial new website, which will discriminate between members on the basis of their looks, was officially launched this week by two Oxford students who claim it could soon pose a threat to the online domination of facebook. Amiworthit.com is the creation of Kirill Makharinsky, a third year John’s student, and Matt Foster, a second year at Keble. In common with many networking sites, Am I Worth It? allows users to create a profile and attach a photograph.
However, applicants are only eligible for membership after a three day evaluation, during which existing members are asked to rate them on their appearance with the crucial question, ‘Are they worth it?’ Open to students across the UK, the site was made available earlier this year to 50 invited members, but was opened for general application last Monday.
Makharinsky said he thought his project had the potential to overtake facebook in popularity, however OUSU’s VP (Women) Ellie Cumbo said she thought the premise was tenuous. “An online community into which only the most attractive are admitted should occasion a wave of eye-rolling across the university, most of whose inhabitants are surely sensible enough to value their intelligence more highly than their looks.
“Still, nobody is judged without actively seeking it and, given that both male and female hubris is invited, their Equal Opportunities Policy seems pretty sound to me.” Makharinsky stressed that being physically attractive will not be the only entry criteria, and rejected applicants will be allowed to reapply. “Basically we want to create a community of people who would like to hang out together,” he said.
Invitation cards will be handed out to potential members in the street, and participants could find themselves being offered modelling work through joining the group.
9th Feb 2006