Star Wars or Harry Potter? Pepsi or Coke? Knowledge or Wisdom? These are the types of questions you’ll see in Zip – The Question/Answer App, a new app that allows anyone to ask questions and survey the world or simply pass the time answering other user-made questions. The idea is simple: Swipe left for option A, swipe right for option B, or swipe up to skip the question entirely.
A similar concept has been used in games like Would You Rather or Will You Press the Button, where users submit dilemmas and poll the community for a general consensus. Where Zip differs is the variability in the questions being asked. As soon as you log in for the first time, via email or connecting your Facebook account, Zip asks about you. Users are given a list of interests, from philosophy to politics to pure nonsensical questions. These interests greatly come into play in the questions provided by the app, and it’s best to choose a wide multitude to get a more diversified pool of questions.
Because the questions are opinion-based and user-generated, they can often be hit-or-miss. Some deal with deep philosophical issues regarding mortality and the concept of a “perfect afterlife,” while some simply ask a yes-no question on whether or not you’ve seen the newest season of Pretty Little Liars. Zip also tries to delve into more mature content, as it asks for your birthdate and presents questions that may be more adult in nature should you choose to go that route. If the content gets too explicit, however, the questions can be reported.
Though the app presents itself as “100% anonymous,” Zip also wants your answers to go social and open a bigger discussion. By connecting your Facebook account, you can share questions that sparked your interest and open the floor for your friends to weigh in. While this idea sounds good on paper, Zip’s questions only allow for two answer options, turning any deep question about the world into something more like a Yes/No situation.
Past asking and answering questions is another option on the main menu known as QuickCode, a way for friends, brands and supposed celebrities to settle disputes or ask a few feedback based questions. However, due to the recent release of the app, QuickCodes are nowhere to be found other than through the company’s Twitter account and I was unable to find a way to create a QuickCode for myself.
If you need to pass the time, Zip is a solid choice, allowing for hours of fun, but its social features sometimes miss the mark. Zip – The Question/Answer App is available on the iTunes App Store and Google Play store for free.
