Safety app for social media groups

27 May 2016 - 08:39 By SHENAAZ JAMAL

A Cape Town developer has set his mind to solving the problem of safety in community social media groups.While most of the groups are created and carefully monitored, there are still concerns about whether criminal elements can access personal data from community WhatsApp and Facebook groups.The application called OurHood was developed by Bruce Good, who formed the OurHood company in in 2014.The App since its launch over a year ago now boasts more than 17,000 users in over 1300 communities countrywide, with popularity in Johannesburg and Cape Town.Speaking to the Times, Good said: "My theory is you can build a safer country by building safer neighbourhoods and I was a victim of a crime and I realised I didn't know my neighbours."A lot of people are using WhatsApp and Facebook groups because there hasn't been anything else designed for communication in neighbourhoods. Using WhatsApp is a nightmare because firstly you give away your confidential cell number and there are no sections within it and you have to follow a stream of linear messages to find something," said Good.The application, once downloaded, requires the user to sign in with their Facebook account and connects them to their neighbourhood using the address on their profile.The user has to upload a copy of a utility bill onto the site or a postcard with a unique verification code is sent to the users' address."We check every single person who applies and our team of six verifies the proof of addresses and ensures details on the app correspond," Good said.Existing verified users can also add members by uploading their e-mail address onto the site.The app is divided into different multi-topic streams for different functions where users are able to alert each other on crime, post important notices and events, and allows users to mute sections they have no interest in.The platform also offers users the ability to create smaller groups within the application and accommodates external groups such as WhatsApp and Facebook pages on the site...

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