Chapter 2 #2
I wince, knowing he’s not going to like the concept.
I’m sure he’s heard what it’s used for, but he’s looking for confirmation from me directly.
I should have known this moment was going to happen sooner than later.
I take a deep breath and reply, “Short….” I pause, waiting to see if he catches the hidden undertone.
When neither of them says anything, I add hesitantly, “As in one night…or casual sex on occasion.”
“Oh,” Irene exclaims with a smile. “It’s like a booty-call app.”
“Yeah,” I confirm, grimacing as I watch the expression on my father’s face change.
“How safe is it?” Dad questions. “I mean, aren’t women possibly suing you for interacting with creeps, stalkers and all?”
“We do have the legal side of things covered,” I affirm. “But there’s a twist with how Flirt works which makes it different from other apps.”
“Really?” he replies skeptically.
“Unlike dating sites, the app has a system that verifies users in different ways. The main way is how each user is connected to their friends on the app, male and female, as well as their other social media platforms. With their connections, and how they and their friends use it and interact with each other, we’ve created an algorithm.
It calculates ratings on each person, giving them certain statuses based on those interactions across all social media, as well as what information they enter and how others interact with them.
Aside from being rated a a good lay or not ,feedback on previous hookups or interactions, cell numbers, social media posts and use, texts, geo-location, and several other items play a huge role on your Flirt hook up. ”
“A good lay?” Dad repeats, choking on the words.
“Out of all of that, you hear a good lay ?”
“Randy,” Irene chides sweetly.
“The system won’t allow you to Flirt with just anyone who you don’t have a least a certain number of mutual friends with or other similar preferences with because of the algorithm…plus some of the other stuff I previously mentioned and more,” I defend.
“I think it’s cute,” Irene states. “Every generation has its promiscuous groups. If this is a safer way for them to do it, then I think it’s great. You’ll have my support no matter what.”
“Thanks,” I say, looking at Dad for his approval.
“Do you…ahh…use it, Dei? The app that is?” he asks sheepishly.
“Yes,” I reply nervously. “But only to keep up appearances and keep the app making money…I use it, but I don’t use it.” There was a bit of a half-truth to my last statement.
Dad eyes me as if he’s waiting for me to crack and explain further. “Good.” He lets out a weighted sigh.
“Isn’t the app free?” Irene asks.
“Yes.”
“Then, how do you make money?”
“Easy. We have advertisers who pay to be in front of our users. Since we monitor so many different things, we’re able to specifically target certain ads to those users who would most likely use the products or services based on their use of the app,” I share.
“How do you do that?” Irene asks.
“Based on a person’s geo-location, their profile, their interaction on the app as well as posts or money spent in a location, let’s say a bar, the app can recommend using a driver service, a nearby place to eat, or even the closest location to get contraceptives.”
Dad’s fork clangs against his plate again. “You can be that specific?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t these people mind how much personal information can be seen by your app or your advertisers?” he asks.
“No. Our lengthy terms of agreement, which are also about providing protection aside from accurate matches and services, must be read and agreed to before creating an account. Also, in this day and age, it’s considered odd and suspicious if you’re not searchable online, as well as posting personal information about yourself to the general public. ”
“So basically, they don’t really believe in the concept of privacy anymore?” Irene guesses.
“To some extent, that’s correct,” I agree.
“How much personal stuff is up on all…this?” Dad waves his hand in the air. “Of you on there?”
“Fake personal stuff.”
“Really?” he asks speculatively.
“Yes. There is me…the Deidre you know…and then, there’s me, the Deidre everyone else knows. My brand is what is up on the app, not the real me.”
“So, it’s a form of false advertising,” Dad speculates.
“It’s more like an alter-ego,” I clarify, hoping to make his newfound insight easier to digest. “There are parts of the branding side that are me, my core beliefs and stuff, which help with PR and marketing. But, there are many pieces of the real me missing. It’s staged, like a movie or television show. ”
“I think that’s smart,” Irene says.
“Thanks.”
“I don’t like it. But I’d rather there be parts… ” Dad says, accenting his last word, “about you not being visible to the public.”
“Try looking at Flirt Deidre as a basketball player or actress. There are aspects of them and their life that are real on camera, but there are a lot of the personal parts that are still not visible to everyone.”
“I don’t want certain parts of you ever visible to anyone,” he says.
“Even to a boyfriend or husband?" Irene asks playfully.
“Yes,” Dad confirms firmly.
“Or girlfriend,” Irene adds. “Remember, we’re open to any kind of relationship you prefer.”
“Thanks,” I reply with a smile. “I’m definitely into men, though.”
Irene smirks, knowing that to my dad, I’ll always be an innocent little girl. I might have a smart mouth and be portrayed differently for the app. I’ll always be his little girl and nothing will ever change that.
“At least it’s not like a reality television show, honey,” Irene comments. “Having cameras around with you twenty-four seven is more intrusive.”
“That was an option presented by Victoria, but I turned it down immediately.”