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Original poster

Giggle app - 'for girls only'

110 replies

midclegs · 31/07/2020 12:15

I am becoming more and more angry with a 'women and girls only' app called Giggle. It transpires that this app, which purports to only allow females and tests membership by using 'sophisticated AI' to test for male/female facial characteristics based on 'selfies', is unsuccessfully straddling the line between trying to be inclusive for transwomen (and Sall, the founder, believes TWAW) and lying to women and girls by saying that men aren't allowed.

Here is the website: joinagiggle.com/

TRAs aren't happy because it's trans-exclusive; www.theverge.com/2020/2/7/21128236/gender-appgiggle-women-ai-screen-trans-social

Sall says there are no men on Giggle, twitter.com/salltweets/status/1280070838289436680

Sall tells us itis a forum for women and girls to discuss periods and PCOS twitter.com/salltweets/status/1280065432615923712?s=20

A good thread is here, detailing the contradictory messages that Giggle is setting: twitter.com/adulthumanfem10/status/1284062222155644929?s=20

Sall doesn't allow transmen on to her app (see 2nd image).
And Sall's app has a 'Sex Work' category for girls and women. (3rd image).

Sall appears on Twitter often posing as a GC woman asking questions such as "What is a man", yet her business model blurs the truth. Many many teen girls around the world are being lured into believing that this is a site for females only. But this is a dodgy site which some think is enabling grooming: twitter.com/lunarfish1524/status/1285544427004534785?s=20

Sorry for a potentially incoherent post, but please have a look and let me know I'm not being irrationally bonkers!

(PS I am blocked by her on Twitter, she blocks anyone immediately who asks rational questions)

Giggle app - 'for girls only'
Giggle app - 'for girls only'
Giggle app - 'for girls only'
OP posts:
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8
ErrolTheDragon · 21/01/2021 21:00

But the inclusion of 'sex work'? What?!

It may be another of those areas where a feminist who is generally 'liberal' may not have fully thought through the implications yet.

Support for women who may feel they have no other options, sure, but placing it between science and technology ...Hmm

NoPupIsTooSmall · 21/01/2021 20:25

Is it to offer support and resources for those who are in the sex industry and want to escape but feel trapped? feels sceptical

I wondered that and can only hope it is something like that. Anything that normalises or attempts to legitimise prostitution and paid for rape on an app designed for women and girls would not be a welcome feature, in my humble opinion!

ChChChChChangesToUsername · 21/01/2021 20:12

Responses on Twitter are positive, but this letter doesn't seem to have had much circulation (and hasn't been promoted by some high profile GC types). Any ideas why?

CranberriesChoccyAgain · 21/01/2021 18:43

@NoPupIsTooSmall

The letter is great. I'm behind you Sall.

But the inclusion of 'sex work'? What?!

Is it to offer support and resources for those who are in the sex industry and want to escape but feel trapped? feels sceptical
NoPupIsTooSmall · 21/01/2021 18:04

The letter is great. I'm behind you Sall.

But the inclusion of 'sex work'? What?!

Beamur · 21/01/2021 17:48

She's very clear in that letter. Good for her.

DaisiesandButtercups · 21/01/2021 17:44

Thanks Nonny.

Has anyone got it? What do you think?

I heard there was a question at some point over the promotion of prostitution as “work” on Giggle. Does anyone know anything more about that?

NonnyMouse1337 · 21/01/2021 17:34

@despairenting

Out of interest, how does this app/company make money? Does it have ads or in-app purchases or something?
Yes I think there are premium features that can be purchased. I don't know if there are adverts, but the main features are free, and if you want some extra perks then you pay for those.
DaisiesandButtercups · 21/01/2021 17:23

@despairenting

Out of interest, how does this app/company make money? Does it have ads or in-app purchases or something?
I’d like to know the answer to this one too...
NotTerfNorCis · 21/01/2021 16:57

Good for her.

It seems extraordinary that activists would try to convince a group it's safe and desirable to admit them, by piling on with threats of rape and murder.

SisterWendyBuckett · 21/01/2021 16:50

What a letter.

Well done Sall - we all know it can't be easy to be so public. And I'm fuming with what you and so many other women have had to deal with professionally.

Wish you hadn't called your app 'Giggle' though - it really puts me off.

persistentwoman · 21/01/2021 16:28

Good for her. Once women see the scale of erasure of women's voices & lives, it becomes very hard to hold the 'inclusive of any man who says he is' line.

NecessaryScene1 · 21/01/2021 16:07

They've said previously that if a male person has had significant FFS the software may recognise them as female.

Sure, like anything, it's not going to be 100% secure against individual males gaining entry, but it should be 100% guarded by policy against the behaviour seen in other places with males taking over the space.

Any males in there would be through stealth, knowing they would be immediately banned if identified. That should make a huge difference.

I understand there are other places out there like the "lesbian" Her dating app where saying you were not interested in males or transwomen on a profile would mean a banning.

Winesalot · 21/01/2021 15:52

Has the forum started there yet? I read that Sall was starting a forum on giggle. Just for women.

Signalbox · 21/01/2021 15:51

joinagiggle.com/terms-of-use/

Signalbox · 21/01/2021 15:50

In their terms of use is says...

You must be female to use the App

But I don't think they can guarantee it will be 100% female because of the technology they use. They've said previously that if a male person has had significant FFS the software may recognise them as female.

NecessaryScene1 · 21/01/2021 15:41

So it's now a female app?

Yes.

nevernotstruggling · 21/01/2021 15:36

So it's now a female app?

Harmarsuperstar · 21/01/2021 15:32

I've just downloaded the app on the strength of that letter Smile

BrassicaRabbit · 21/01/2021 15:17

It has been quite cathartic to watch Sall wake up to this. Most of us got to do this privately. And many famous women can't or won't talk about this.

Datun · 21/01/2021 15:01

@ChChChChChangesToUsername

Thanks Sall. I'd never have considered installing this app before, but now I'm very interested in getting it. I hope there are many others who feel the same, and that this makes your app a great success.
Me too. Her therapist wasn't wrong when they said to surround herself with women.
ChChChChChangesToUsername · 21/01/2021 14:46

Thanks Sall. I'd never have considered installing this app before, but now I'm very interested in getting it. I hope there are many others who feel the same, and that this makes your app a great success.

despairenting · 21/01/2021 14:32

Out of interest, how does this app/company make money? Does it have ads or in-app purchases or something?

FlibbertyGiblets · 21/01/2021 14:28

Fair play Sall, you have been properly brave and stunning. Big love from me.

Melroses · 21/01/2021 14:25

I remember when this was set up.

Good letter.

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